Melissa Henderson, an alumna of Ferris State University’s Criminal Justice Bachelor and Master of Science degree programs, has been honored by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, as she was recently named their Deputy of the Year.

Henderson has spent the sum of her career with the MSCO, after completing her Bachelor of Science degree in 2017 and earned a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2018.

"The program does a great job of preparing Criminal Justice students to succeed, with retired officers as instructors who gave ‘from the field’ perspectives I needed to prepare for responses faced as an officer,” Henderson said. “This allowed me to begin my service as a deputy with a good understanding of promoting public safety and an awareness of professional situations and demands.”

Henderson was nominated by a supervisor for her honor.

“I began as a road patrol officer and have added responsibility by serving as a field training officer for our department,” Henderson said. “I have also joined our Special Response team as a hostage negotiator. I am very proud we were able to resolve two responses in the last year without incident and to have had an active role in our success on those occasions.”

Henderson, a native of Westland, was celebrated by the Exchange Club of Monroe County this month, joined by MSCO peer Charles Galloway, who was named Corrections Officer of the Year.

“We have over six dozen officers serving the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office,” Henderson said. “There are many great officers on the force, and it is really an honor to represent them through this award.”