Sheriff department honors employees of the year

Jef Rietsma
·1 min read
Deputies Jeff Bingaman, Travis Miller and Zach Radtke, with Undersheriff Jason Bingaman to the left and Capt. T.J. Baker on the right, were recognized as St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department’s 2023 “Employees of the Year” during a ceremony earlier this month.
Deputies Jeff Bingaman, Travis Miller and Zach Radtke, with Undersheriff Jason Bingaman to the left and Capt. T.J. Baker on the right, were recognized as St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department’s 2023 “Employees of the Year” during a ceremony earlier this month.
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CENTREVILLE – St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has recognized five of its staff members as “Employees of the Year” recipients for 2023.

Capt. T.J. Baker said three road patrol deputies – Jeff Bingaman, Travis Miller and Zach Radtke – were involved in a case that warranted their consideration for the award. Baker declined to provide details about the case but noted the trio was instrumental in handling the matter.

Meanwhile, corrections deputies Spencer Schrader and Paul Kindig were also bestowed the honor.

Spencer Schrader and Paul Kindig, with Undersheriff Jason Bingaman on the left and Capt. Kitty Buchner on the right, were named corrections deputies of the year, an accolade chosen by their sergeants.
Spencer Schrader and Paul Kindig, with Undersheriff Jason Bingaman on the left and Capt. Kitty Buchner on the right, were named corrections deputies of the year, an accolade chosen by their sergeants.

Baker said the 2023 award was an embarrassment of riches, as honors typically go to just two or three people.

“To get to this point, you have to be recognized as employee of the month, which is typically a smaller event at shift change and we give them a certificate,” Baker said. “Fast forward to January and we pulled up all of 2023’s employees of the month winners, we get all the sergeants in one room, we review nominations for employee of the year and then we go around the table and a vote is taken.”

Baker said he, Undersheriff Jason Bingaman and Capt. Kitty Buchner, jail administrator, help facilitate the process but do not cast a vote.

As a past recipient himself, Baker said the recognition is an honor.

“It’s an awesome award and it’s really cool that it’s your superiors who decide the winners,” Baker said. “This is a thankless job at times and I think it’s good for them to realize their sergeants acknowledge what they’re doing.”

The ceremony took place April 11 in the sheriff’s department training center.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: Sheriff department honors employees of the year