COLUMBIA, SC – Sheriff Kevin Tolson has been recognized for his support of active and reserve duty military York County Sheriff’s Office employees. At a ceremony in Columbia, SC on March 20th, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) under the Department of Defense, honored Sheriff Tolson as a Patriotic Employer. Sheriff Tolson was nominated for this award by LCpl. Berlin Gipson, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran.
“I will always be supportive of the members of our nations armed forced who serve dual roles to serve and protect our country and the citizens of York County as Deputies,” Said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. “It is truly an honor to have such dedicated, self-sacrificing men and women serving our community.”
Sheriff Tolson was nominated for this award by LCpl. Berlin Gipson, who is also a U.S. Navy veteran.
“Because of my role as an intelligence specialist in the Navy, I have been called up to go overseas to provide support during crisis situations on very short notice. During these times have never been any questions,” said LCpl. Gipson “It has always been – Let us know how we can support you and your family. If you need anything at all let us know. – That has been amazing.”
The Patriotic Employer Award was established by ESGR to publicly acknowledge individual supervisors and agency heads who show steadfast support to servicemembers who work for their agency. The award reflects the efforts made to support citizen-warriors through a wide range of measures, including time off prior to and after deployment, flexible schedules, caring for families, and granting leaves of absence if needed.
The ESGR was founded as a division of the U.S. Department of Defense more than 50 years ago, knowing the relationship between part-time servicemen and women and their employers is vital not only for their jobs but also national security.
