Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club Honors Deputy

“This night is about you,” said Forsyth County Sheriff Ted Paxton as he addressed remarks to Forsyth County Deputy Courtney Spriggs. He went on to say that Spriggs “does a tremendous job and is a tremendous asset to the community.”  For her efforts, Forsyth County Deputy Courtney Spriggs was presented with the Sawnee-Cumming Optimist Club 2011 Respect for Law award last night. 

Under the guise of giving a Safe Kids of Forsyth County presentation to the local Optimist Club, Spriggs arrived with handouts and was prepared to speak about Safe Kids Forsyth County, a grassroots coalition of Safe Kids Georgia and Safe Kids USA.  According to her supervisor, Sgt. A.J. Frampton, Spriggs spoke to the Optimists months ago on the topic. 

“I thought it would be better to surprise her,” Frampton said regarding the award presentation. Her husband, Forsyth County Deputy Sgt. Scotty Spriggs, like most of his wife's other co-workers, was aware of the secret.

The meeting opened with remarks from club vice president, Russ Thomas, who shared that a yet-to-be-named law enforcement official epitomized the philosophy of the sheriff’s office “to serve and protect through dedication, professionalism, active cooperation with the community and respect for human dignity.” 

Paxton told the honoree, “I am honored she’s an employee of the county.” His sentiments were echoed by other law enforcement officers.

Frampton, who has supervised Spriggs for three and a half years, said, “The Sheriff’s Office is lucky to have her. The community is lucky to have her” of the deputy.

Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer, Capt. Tim House simply stated that Spriggs does “an invaluable job.”

 After words from her colleagues, Spriggs was presented with a plaque, a gift card and a coaster with the Optimist Club creed from club president Cheryl Pruitt.

Pruitt said the award was to honor Spriggs and in appreciation “from the bottom of our hearts.”  She quickly added that she  is “proud to live in Forsyth County” because of the work of Deputy Spriggs.

A humble Spriggs remarked that the “Optimist Club is a great organization and to be recognized for what we do is an honor.” 

She added that she is “lucky to work in a sheriff’s office where the relationship with the community is strong.” 

Senior and Lawmen Together (SALT), Safe Kids Forsyth, Junior Law Enforcement Academy, and Citizen's Law Enforcement Academy are just some of the programs that Spriggs has initiated and with which she is currently affiliated.