- November 28, 2024
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When you look at Officer Lauren Sander's resume, her nomination for Crime Stoppers' Law Enforcement Officer of the Year seems very appropriate.
She was a top performer in the Ormond Beach Police Department's Police Explorer program, where she led an entire team to a state-level championship. And after only working in the department's DUI Unit for a year, she has already made more arrests than her predecessors and made huge efforts to keeps all local alcohol and tobacco business from serving minors.
But when you ask Officer Sanders why she thinks she was nominated, she'll tell you she has no idea.
"We have plenty of officers here that are deserving of this award," she said. "I'm not sure why they chose me."
Her former explorer advisor and current sergeant, D.W. Smith, backed up what her work in the police department has already said: Officer Sanders goes above and beyond her call of duty.
"I keep calling her kid, and I can't call her kid anymore," Smith laughed. "I've known her since she was a teenager. I knew she was going to be good at this from the start. I'm obviously, very proud."
Sergeant Steve Mills led the explorer program when Officer Sanders was in it, and said that a lot of times students don't go on to be a part of the police department. Still young herself, Sanders not only works for OBPD, but has also taken over Mills' role and currently runs the program she grew up in.
"It's rewarding to know that she's here, and that she's in charge now," Mills said.
She didn't win Officer of the Year, but we can bet that awards don't really matter to Officer Lauren Sanders. Within just a few minutes of speaking with her, it's clear she doesn't do her job for the recognition.
