Two Earn Deputy of the Year Awards
St. Mary’s Sheriff’s Office Deputy Joseph Senatore and Detective Sergeant Austin Schultz.
Two St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office deputies were honored as Deputies of the Year at the 2024 Maryland Sheriff’s Association Professional Development Seminar in Ocean City, MD, earlier this month. Detective Sergeant Austin Schultz received the Crime Prevention Award, and Deputy Joseph Senatore was recognized with the Traffic Safety Award.
Detective Sgt. Schultz earned the large agency Crime Prevention Award, which recognizes individuals who make outstanding contributions to crime prevention through public safety education, innovative security techniques, effective policing strategies, or a notable single act of crime prevention.
Mr. Schultz was praised for his exemplary leadership, embodying the sheriff’s office vision of innovative, community-oriented policing.
As a founding member of the Criminal Intelligence Unit, he spearheads the Group Violence Intervention Program, a collaboration with community partners to reduce gun violence. By engaging at-risk individuals and offering resources and support, Deputy Sgt. Schultz’s work has provided alternatives to those involved in firearm and group violence, significantly enhancing public safety.
Deputy Senatore received the large agency Traffic Safety Award, which recognizes officers who contribute to traffic safety through purpose-driven enforcement that addresses community issues through enforcement, commitment, and education.
Since completing his field training program in January 2023, Mr. Senatore has led traffic safety efforts, notably in the “Slow Down St. Mary’s” initiative targeting speeding and reckless driving.
His proactive approach, including more than 1,500 vehicle stops and nearly 2,400 traffic violations, has helped reduce accidents and make local roads safer. Beyond enforcement, Deputy Senatore showed his dedication by assisting a traffic violator to get to a necessary medical appointment, highlighting his commitment to the community’s well-being.
“Detective Sergeant Austin Schultz and Deputy Joseph Senatore’s dedicated service is not only recognized by our community and office; law enforcement agencies representing the entire state of Maryland selected them for special recognition,” St. Mary’s Sheriff Steve Hall said. “They exemplify the very best of our agency’s commitment to public safety and community service.”
