Deputy Kara Clark comes from a family of Scott County homemakers, but knew she wanted to pursue a different path.

“I guess I’m the only one ‘out there in the wild,’ ” Clark said. “(Law enforcement) is just always what I wanted to do.”

Clark worked with the Meridian Police Department for three years before transferring to the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department three years ago. Now, she works as the school resource officer at Northeast High School. She also helps coordinate the Special Olympics torch run, promoting a softball tournament in May, running the torch downtown and selling t-shirts.

“I love that I can be a part of something that changes people’s lives,” Clark said. “The smiles on their faces, the joy they get from participating – I love it.”

Clark, Sgt. Marshall “Andy” West and Lt. Deborah K. Young received Law Enforcement Office of the Year Awards from the Exchange Club of Meridian Tuesday at a Red Lobster luncheon. 

The award recognizes the men and women who serve and highlights the sacrifices made by law enforcement officers protecting the community. The Exchange Club of Meridian is part of a national organization that works to improve communities through service programs.

West enrolled in trooper school less than a month after graduating from college in 1998. He served briefly in northern part of the state before joining Troop H in East Mississippi. 

“It was my first real job out of college,” West said. “It’s just what I wanted to do.”

Young took a more unconventional path, starting as a court typist with the city of Meridian in 1995. A dare prompted Young’s unconventional career change to the Meridian Police Department.

“Some of the officers didn’t think I could pass (the exam),” Young said. “What they didn’t know was that I was prior military.”

Young trained for a month and passed the exam, joining in 1998 and serving as both an officer and a detective. Now, she works with juveniles.

“It’s the smile on a child’s face when I help,” Young said, on her most gratifying experiences in law enforcement. One career highlight included the conviction of a young sexual assault victim’s aggressor. “I made her a promise I would do my very best… and seeing her smile (after) made it all worthwhile.”

All three honorees couldn’t explicitly define what drew them to law enforcement even after years of service, but expressed a need to be of service to their communities.

“It’s just what God wanted me to do – that’s the way I look at it,” Clark said.