American Legion honors law enforcement, educators with awards

The Idaho Falls American Legion celebrated its 99th birthday by giving out awards to local law enforcement and educators. Each recipient was chosen by his or her department or district. Sgt. Jessica Marley received “Officer of the Year” for the Idaho Falls Police Department.

“I’m just really humbled,” Sgt. Marley said. “There’s really a lot of wonderful people that I work with and a lot of great officers and each and every one of those officers deserve this as well.”

Awards were given to the Bonneville County Deputy of the Year, the Idaho Falls Police Officer of the Year, the Idaho State Trooper of the Year, Idaho Falls Firefighter of the Year and Teacher of the Year for the Idaho Falls and Bonneville County School Districts.

The American Legion is a veteran organization that helps not only veterans, but communities as well. These awards are their way of saying thank you to those who have given back to the community.

“It’s something that they got put in for because of their service to the community, great deeds they have done,” Darrel Homer, Post Commander for the Idaho Falls American Legion, said. “So it’s something that their departments and their districts as far as education goes has put them in for.”

The following won awards:

-Bonneville County Deputy of the Year – Deputy Bret “Kyle” Fielding

– Idaho Falls Police Officer of the Year – Sgt. Jessica Marley

-Idaho State Police Officer of the Year – Sgt. Blake Higley

-Idaho Falls Fireman of the Year – Fireman Tory Stewart

-Teacher of the Year, Idaho Falls School District 91 – Pauline Alessi

-Teacher of the Year, Bonneville School District 93 – Patti Horman