Kilgore lawmen earn honors

Tony C. Means,left, and Brandon T. Bigos, right, were nominated for Police Officer of the Year. They are pictured with Bill Lewis, chief of the Kilgore College police department. Bigos was the department's office of the year. Courtesy photo LONGVIEW -Kilgore Police Office Jerry McDaniel was named Kilgore Officer of the Year during the 15th annual Giants of Law Enforcement Banquet.

The banquet, sponsored by the Centurion Club, was held at Maude Cobb Activity Center. Law enforcement officers from through East Texas were honored.

Nominees for the Kilgore PD Officer of the Year award were Roy Nixon, Jerry McDaniel and Angela Burch.

Kilgore's Supervisor of the Year was Tony Stone. The award is presented to the supervisor below the rank of lieutenant who provides the most outstanding service and leadership to the department during the previous year.

Ronnie Moore, Kilgore Director of Public Safety, said Stone's shift made more than 250 arrests, including more than 50 DWI arrests, and filed 150 cases with the district attorney's office.

Davis Merrell was named Investigator of the year for the KPD.

From left, Supervisor of the Year Sgt. Tony Stone, Investigator of the Year Davis Merrell, Civilian Employee of the Year Shannon Henderson, Chief Ronnie Morre and Kilgore PD Officer of the Year Jerry McDaniel, all of the Kilgore Police Department. Courtesy photo Moore said Merrell was assigned to the Drug Enforcement Administration Task Force in Tyler from 2001 to 2004. In 2004 he was reassigned to the County Organized Drug Enforcement Unit.

Kilgore PD Investigator of the Year nominees were Roman Roberson and Davis Merrell.

Kilgore's Civilian of the Year was Shannon Henderson. Henderson has worked for KPD for six years and is cross-trained in dispatch and records.

Nominees for the Kilgore Police Department Civilian Employee of the Year were Dana Dukes, Rachel Rowe and Shannon Henderson.

Brandon T. Bigos was named Officer of the Year for Kilgore College. He has been in law enforcement for seven years, over three of those with KC.

Kilgore College Police department Officer of the Year award nominees were Tony Means and Brandon T. Bigos.

Law enforcement personnel from Kilgore, Gladewater, White Oak, Longview, Lakeport, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission and Gregg County Sheriffs Department were recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty.

The Centurion Club is an elite group of citizens and businesses who each contribute $100 annually. The donations are used to fund the annual Law Enforcement Awards Banquet.

A Survivors' Fund has been established and will provide financial assistance to the families of Gregg County law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.