YORK COUNTY, SC - On Friday, December 19, 2020 York County Sheriff’s Detention Officer Jeffery Kloss was presented with the Bert Friday Award during graduation ceremonies at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia, SC.
The Bert Friday Award is presented to the student in the basic jail training class with the highest overall academic average; including successful completion of all performance tests including defensive tactics. Kloss had the highest academic ranking out of 25 students in his class.
“This is a very prestigious award that’s not easy to obtain,” said Sheriff Kevin Tolson. “This shows how much effort and determination Officer Kloss put in to preparing for each and every one of the tests. We are glad to have him on our Sheriff’s Office team.”
The Bert Friday Award is named after G.S. Bert Friday who left a legacy of a long and illustrious law enforcement and corrections career as a patrolman with the Columbia City Police Department and rose to the rank of Captain in 1954. In 1962, he joined the SC Department of Corrections as Deputy Warden. The Jail and Prison Inspection Division of the Department of Corrections was established in 1967 with Friday organizing and implementing the statewide inspection program. He helped lay the foundation for a successful cooperative effort among state agencies and departments that still exists today.
Officers who successfully complete the basic jail training attain certification in South Carolina as professional detention officers.
