attitude for excellence

The Sheriff is sponsoring the Attitude for Excellence Program here at Dane County. This is a program that will reward all employees of the Sheriff's Office for attitude and actions which greatly exceed our expectations. In most instances, these actions are brought to our attention by citizen letters of commendation.

The Attitude for Excellence program is a way to remind all of us that our job is to always serve the citizenry as best we are able. Those employees who earn this award will receive a certificate and a special challenge coin. This particular coin is available only to those who receive the award.

Current Recipients

2008 Recipients 2007 Recipients

Current Recipients of the Attitude for Excellence Award

Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Brian Tuescher, after receiving a letter from a citizen thanking Deputy Tuescher for the courtesy and professionalism showed to her after her vehicle went into a ditch due to icy weather conditions. Deputy Tuescher arrived on the scene quickly and assisted in getting the vehicle back on the road. 01/08/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy George Mayerhofer, after receiving a letter from a citizen thanking him for being “helpful, respectful, personable, and down-to-earth” involving an incident when the couple’s vehicle slid into a ditch. Deputy Mayerhofer made sure that the couple was safe while their vehicle was being towed out of the ditch, and that others on the road were safe as well. 01/12/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Brent Baverstock, after receiving a letter from a family thanking him for his assistance after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Deputy Baverstock was professional and caring during this family’s ordeal, and also played a role in the children looking at the experience as an adventure rather than a tragedy. 01/15/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Sergeant Jeffrey Heil, after receiving a letter from a family thanking him for his assistance after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Sergeant Heil was professional and caring during this family’s ordeal, and also played a role in the children looking at the experience as an adventure rather than a tragedy. 01/15/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Daniel Farmer, after receiving a letter from a family thanking him for his assistance in finding them a car rental agency at the airport after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Deputy Farmer was professional and caring during this family’s ordeal, and also played a role in the children looking at the experience as an adventure rather than a tragedy. 01/21/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Amy Severson, after receiving a letter from a family thanking her for her assistance in finding them a car rental agency at the airport after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Deputy Severson was professional and caring during this family’s ordeal, and also played a role in the children looking at the experience as an adventure rather than a tragedy. 01/21/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Amy Severson, after receiving a letter from a citizen expressing her thanks for Deputy Severson’s assistance with the citizen’s cousin who became very sick after arriving at the airport. Not only did Deputy Severson take care of the situation, but she did so in a professional, calm, and kind manner. 01/21/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Kevin McKnight, after receiving a letter from a citizen expressing her thanks for Deputy McKnight’s assistance with the citizen’s cousin who became very sick after arriving at the airport. Not only did Deputy McKnight take care of the situation, but he did so in a professional, calm, and kind manner. 01/21/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Coy Bethel, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Bethel for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Leslie Fox, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Fox for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Josalyn Longley, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Longley for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy John Nelson, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Nelson for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Michael Block, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Block for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Heidi Gardner, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Gardner for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Richard Bennett, after receiving a thank you card from a Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association Explorer, expressing his thanks to Deputy Bennett for going above and beyond to ensure his success as an Explorer and as a person. 01/22/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Amy Severson, after receiving a letter from a citizen expressing her thanks for Deputy Severson’s help in escorting her to the outdoor top level of the airport parking ramp. The citizen was afraid her vehicle wouldn’t start since it had been sitting out for a week while she was gone. 01/27/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Juan Mejia, after receiving a letter from a couple expressing their thanks for Deputy Mejia helping their daughter when she had a flat tire during some very foggy weather. Deputy Mejia not only stayed with her until help arrived, but was polite and courteous as well. 02/03/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Jeffrey Thiel, after receiving a letter from a couple expressing their thanks for Deputy Thiel’s help when they had an accident on Highway MN. Deputy Theil took very good care of the couple, answering their questions, and doing whatever needed to be done to help them through this experience. 02/03/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Coy Bethel, after receiving a letter from Noble Wray, Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department expressing his thanks to Deputy Bethel for Deputy Bethel’s assistance, along with the Explorer group, with their in-service trainings at the West Towne Mall in January. Deputy Bethel was not only very professional during these trainings, but the help he provided was invaluable. 02/09/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Leslie Fox, after receiving a letter from Noble Wray, Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department expressing his thanks to Deputy Fox for her assistance, along with the Explorer group, with their in-service trainings at the West Towne Mall in January. Deputy Fox was not only very professional during these trainings, but the help she provided was invaluable. 02/09/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Heidi Gardner, after receiving a letter from Noble Wray, Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department expressing his thanks to Deputy Gardner for her assistance, along with the Explorer group, with their in-service trainings at the West Towne Mall in January. Deputy Fox was not only very professional during these trainings, but the help she provided was invaluable. 02/09/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Josalyn Longley, after receiving a letter from Noble Wray, Chief of Police for the Madison Police Department expressing his thanks to Deputy Longley for her assistance, along with the Explorer group, with their in-service trainings at the West Towne Mall in January. Deputy Longley was not only very professional during these trainings, but the help she provided was invaluable. 02/09/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy Christopher Ramirez after receiving a letter from a family expressing their thanks to him for his assistance to them in finding a car rental agency at the airport, after their vehicle was struck by a drunk driver. Deputy Ramirez was not only professional and caring during this family’s ordeal but he also played a role in the children looking at this experience as an adventure rather than a tragedy. 02/10/2009
Sheriff Mahoney awarded an Attitude for Excellence to Deputy William McGowan, after receiving a letter from a citizen expressing his thanks to Deputy McGowan for assisting him with a flat tire on a highway just outside of Madison. Deputy McGowan offered to change the tire and did so in a courteous and professional manner. 02/11/2009