Detective Christina Gilroy and Police Officer First Class Jack Austin of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office were recently awarded the 2020 Law Enforcement Award by the Maryland Retailers Association. The officers were recognized during a virtual ceremony held on October 29.

In 2019, Detective Gilroy and PFC Austin investigated an increase in thefts from local big box stores. Through their tireless efforts and with the support of retail establishments including Target, Home Depot, and Walmart, they were able to develop leads, obtain search warrants, and eventually arrest the suspects in connection with the thefts. More than $100,000 in merchandise was stolen and approximately $80,000 in merchandise was recovered from this theft scheme. Since the charging of the suspects, the thefts have greatly decreased in our area.

Click here to read the full article from the Southern Maryland Chronicle!