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OKALOOSA COUNTY
           DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
           Crestview, Florida

             The Okaloosa County Jail is
           staffed with dedicated professionals
           who manage the daily custodial and
           oversight challenges associated with
           individuals facing the prospect of
           misdemeanor and felony charges, as
           well as those suffering from mental
           health and co­occurring substance
           abuse issues. In the past year, those
           demands have been intensified by
           the presence of COVID­19. There
           are many county employees and
           vendors who work collectively and
           tirelessly for the overall goal of
           protecting the citizens of Okaloosa
           County. This year, we honored per­
           sonnel serving in those professions,
           as well as our support staff, with­
           out whom we could not function
           effectively.
             To celebrate and bring recogni­
           tion to all that our correctional offi­
           cers, nurses, and support staff do in
           service to the citizens of Okaloosa
           County, we held a weeklong Food
           Truck Frenzy. An assortment of
           food truck operators were arranged
           in a daily rotation for variety, and
           served staff, family, friends, and the
           general public. Community support
           for the event was so extraordinary
           that each staff member was pre­
           sented with two meal tickets to be
           used throughout the week, with
           additional meal tickets presented    One of the most moving ele­
           as prizes. Local banks, businesses,   ments of the week was seeing
           churches, and individuals spon­   officers interacting with members
           sored staff meals, donated prizes   of the public in a social atmosphere.
           and gift bags, or contributed funds   Employees came on their days off
           to support the activities.        to enjoy the festivities and brought
                                             their families to interact with
             Staff members were relieved
           from their posts and allowed to   coworkers. The food trucks were
                                             open to the public, and patron­
           order from the food trucks in per­  age by other county departments,
           son, or their orders could be called   law enforcement partners, and
           in and delivered by a volunteer. An   citizens was so spectacular that the
           employee table was set up for staff   event will likely become an annual
           members to redeem their prizes and   tradition.
           pick up drinks, desserts, and boiled
           peanuts.                                  —Captain April McDaniel,
                                                                   M.Ed., CJM




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