Rutherford County Sheriff's Deputy Throneberry received the Outstanding Officer Award this month at graduation from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy's Basic Police School.

The outstanding officer award is granted to the officer with the best overall scores and grades in all phases of training. Deputy Throneberry was the highest overall average in academics, firearms scores, emergency vehicle operation score, defensive tactics score and physical training qualification score.

Sheriff Robert Arnold said he was proud of Deputy Throneberry.

"Deputy Throneberry was dedicated during the 10-weeks of training at the academy," Sheriff Arnold said. "He did his best to excel in all categories."

Tennessee Sheriffs' Association sponsors the award presented in memory of all sheriffs' officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

Deputy Throneberry served as a deputy in detention before being promoted to the patrol division