Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has started a new tradition, a tradition of honoring the office’s most senior deputy.

The office announced that a new senior deputy badge will be given to its most senior deputy.

“The badge is unique in that it is silver and gold with the word Senior Deputy across the top rocker and the number 1 on the bottom, designating the senior deputy within our agency,” according to a news release.

Deputy Tom Walter was presented the badge. Walter began his career with the Sheriff’s Office on March 24, 1994. He worked patrol for about two years before transferring to court operations for 19 months.

In October 1997, Walter transferred back to patrol where he became a field training officer, responsible for training several new recruits to the Sheriff’s Office.  In September 2000, Walter transferred to criminal investigations, where he oversaw the sex offender registry along with working two districts.  In January 2009, Walter went back to patrol.

“Deputy Walter is a true asset to the DCSO, a leader amongst his peers, and a true professional law enforcement officer,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a release.