A longtime communications officer with the Dawson County Sheriff's Office was recently named the 2013 Terminal Agency Coordinator of the Year for the northeast region.

Tasha Tolbert received the award Aug. 13 during the Georgia Association of Terminal Coordinators' annual conference in Savannah.

"It was such an honor and I was completely shocked. I didn't even know that I had been nominated," she said.

Debra Wimpy, 911 director, nominated Tolbert for the award, which was designed to recognize outstanding information coordinators at law enforcement departments across the state by agencies such as the Georgia Crime Information Center.

"She is someone who always goes above and beyond the call of duty. She does so much for us that has nothing to do with 911. She has been instrumental in updating warrants into the system," Wimpy said.

Employed with the Dawson County Sheriff's 911 center since 2005, Tolbert said she was proud to accept the award on behalf of the department.

"Growing up here and being from here, it's really a great honor," she said. "I try to prove myself every day. That's something my parents have always taught me that if you want something in life, you have to show you can be trusted."