John Mehr, Madison County Sheriff, was named Tennessee’s Sheriff of the Year by the Tennessee Constables Association, during the organization’s annual awards banquet, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Saturday.

Mehr said the award came as a surprise.

“I was very surprised when they announced the award, an award I really didn’t know they had,” Mehr said, ” I was really shocked … constables were at the meeting across the state – and I was very humbled.”

Mehr said the Madison County Sheriff’s Department sets up training and helps train constables when needed.

“This was the first time ever the event was held in West Tennessee,” Ricky Martin said, “Sheriff Mehr was definitely surprised. We took nominations, voted, and he was chosen due to his help with constables – and he is definitely pro constable.”

Ricky Martin is a constable and member of the board of directors of the Tennessee Constables Association.

(PHOTO: Left to right, president Tim Holt, executive director, Steve Mangram, board member James Sansom, Sheriff John Mehr and Ricky Martin)