The Optimist Club of Perdido Bay recognized outstanding law enforcement officers and community members from across Baldwin County during its annual Law Day celebration, highlighting acts of bravery, service and academic achievement.

Nicholas Meshall of the Spanish Fort Police Department was named Officer of the Year for what organizers described as heroic and selfless life-saving action carried out without fear or hesitation in the line of duty. David Tetseau of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office also received top honors, recognized for his personal obligation to fellow law enforcement officers.

The event also spotlighted young leaders and educators. Named Citizens of the Year were Katy Doyle, a student at Elberta High School, Haley Stewart, a school aide and Calley Davis, a teacher.

Several additional officers were nominated for Officer of the Year, reflecting the depth of service across agencies in the county. Those nominees included Deputy Joseph Hughes and K-9 Artie, Sgt. Richard Gingras and Investigator Luke Cowan of the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office; Officer Josh Loiola and Detective Paul Blakely of the Daphne Police Department; Officer Timothy Cooper of the Elberta Police Department; Investigator Drake Rollins of the Fairhope Police Department; Officer Ian Levandoski of the Foley Police Department; Lt. Lisa Augustin of the Orange Beach Police Department; Senior Trooper Nickolas Thompson of the Alabama State Troopers and Investigator Paul Overstreet of the Robertsdale Police Department.

In the citizen category, additional nominees included Caily Seale of the Baldwin County Department of Human Resources and Nadia Taylor of the Daphne Police Department.

The ceremony also emphasized education, with multiple scholarships awarded to students connected to law enforcement families. Recipients of the Richard Humphrey Memorial Scholarship were Caroline Downey, who plans to attend Mississippi College; Conor Fagan, Auburn University; Emmy Johnson, Mississippi State University; Leila Lee, University of Alabama; Violet Morin, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Blackley Peterson, Auburn University.

The Optimist Club also awarded scholarships to John Manning of Robertsdale High School, who will attend Auburn University and Josie McKenzie, a Fairhope High School senior who plans to attend Samford University.

Trey Johnson, assistant director of admissions at the University of South Alabama, attended the ceremony and announced a scholarship award for Shelton Claire Ledlow.