Enforcing laws has its own unique challenges, from overseeing peaceful situations to handling law-breaking individuals.

It requires a special person to accomplish this.

We are glad to hear that two Marquette County Sheriff’s Office deputies were honored for their 2021 service.

MCSO Corrections Division deputy Jeff Giroux was named the county’s Deputy of the Year for that division while MCSO Road Patrol Division deputy Dean Rushford was named Deputy of the Year for the patrol.

Supervisors, who are in a good position to determine how employees perform, select the winners in each division every year.

Giroux was selected because, according to officials, he is always willing “to do what it takes to get the job done.” They also noted that with the difficulty of dealing with COVID-19, Giroux, who has been with the sheriff’s office for 20 years, embraced the challenges and excelled. They also noted his experience and job knowledge.

Rushford was chosen for his commitment as a trainer, his teaching of defensive tactics and Taser, and his willingness to work extra shifts or stay late when needed, officials said. Rushford, who has been with MCSO for 37 years, has taught the Youth Alcohol Traffic Education Program as part of area driver’s education classes for the past 17 years.

Many if not all state of Michigan agencies are important, but law enforcement employees are particularly essential considering the many life-or-death situations they face, and the sometimes extreme nature of protecting public safety.

We congratulate Giroux and Rushford for their well-deserved recognition and hope they serve as an inspiration to others in law enforcement as well as the general public, which should keep in mind the complexity of public safety duties and obey the law.