Sunderland Named Officer of the Year

MISSOULA – Detective Mike Sunderland received the Officer of the Year Award with the Missoula County Sheriff's Office at the 45th Annual Missoula Exchange Club Law Enforcement Banquet Dec. 6 in Missoula.

Missoula County Undersheriff Richard Maricelli said that Sunderland was nominated for his involvement and investigation of a major burglary ring in the Seeley Lake area while working as Seeley Lake resident deputy. After being reassigned as a detective in Missoula this past September, he was also involved in a similar case in the Missoula area.

Sunderland was humbled by the recognition. He thanked Sheriff T.J. McDermott and the Sheriff's Office staff for the nomination and the Missoula Exchange Club for the recognition.

"It's nice that there are people that recognize law enforcement like the Exchange Club," said Sunderland. "There is so much negativity towards law enforcement around the country. It's just nice to see that someone actually cares."

Sunderland was recognized with seven other officers of the year, each recognized by their agency: Missoula County 911 Dispatcher Kiley Prendergast; Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Panas; USDA Forest Service Law Enforcement Officer Stephanie Zacha; Montana Probation & Parole Officer Allison Janes; Missoula Police Department Detective Stacy Lear; University of Montana Police Department Officer Kurt Feilzer and Missoula County Sheriff's Office Detention Division Officer Jason Henry.