OKEECHOBEE – Very few ever achieve the status of earning the Chief Deputy Award from the Okeechobee County Sheriff’s Office, and Cpl. Steven Pollock is one of the few.

A letter written by Major Michael Hazellief states, “It is with great pleasure to announce you are the recipient of the Chief Deputy Award.” The letter goes on to explain the reason Cpl. Pollock was recognized for this honor.

During the 2021/22 fiscal year, Cpl. Pollock applied for and received two grants pertaining to traffic enforcement. The combined award for these grants was $80,000, and Cpl. Pollock fulfilled all the requirements that come along with the receipt of a grant such as scheduling, enforcement, dates, etc.

Cpl. Pollock was nominated for the award by Lt. Randy Thomas, who wrote, “I am writing this letter for Cpl. Steven Pollock due to his over and above commitment to traffic enforcement in Okeechobee County. The lieutenant went on to express his gratitude for the grants and said the Corporal has already applied for new grants for the coming fiscal year. “Cpl. Pollock’s dedication and efforts toward traffic safety for Okeechobee County are and will continue to make the streets of Okeechobee safer,” he wrote.

Cpl. Jack Nash who serves as community liaison and public information officer said, “This award and ribbon can only be awarded to sworn members who go above and beyond their standard duty assignments. The Sheriff or Chief Deputy Sheriff can only give this special award.”