Trenton Police Department’s Trey Williams Named Officer Of The Year
By LYDIA BERGLAR
News Editor
Photo by Lydia Berglar – From left, William Mefford, Trey Williams, and Denny Reyes were this year’s Officer of the Year nominees, along with Kyle Faulknor and Andres Facemeyer who were absent.
Dade County’s 20th Annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony named Sergeant Thomas “Trey” Williams (officer with the Trenton Police Department) as the 2025 Officer of the Year. Presented by the Trenton-Dade Optimist Club and Georgia State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, the May 6 gathering also recognized Georgia’s fallen officers and the local Officer of the Year nominees.
In 2024, Georgia lost six law enforcement officers:
- Deputy Sheriff Eric Anthony Minix of the Coweta County Sheriff’s Office died January 4 when struck by a vehicle.
- Trooper Jimmy Cenescar of Georgia State Patrol died January 28 in an automobile crash.
- Deputy Sheriff Timothy Taavarus of the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office died February 6 in an automobile crash.
- Trooper First Class Chase Winston Redner of Georgia State Patrol died February 20 when struck by a vehicle.
- Deputy Sheriff Brandon Tyler Cunningham of the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office died August 17 by gunfire.
- Investigator Taylor Jaimson Bristow of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office died August 23 by gunfire.
The ceremony began with a video message from Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady of Georgia Marty Kemp thanking law enforcement officers for their service.
Guest speaker Clayton Fuller (district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit) spoke about the national war against law enforcement. Mentioning the term “war on crime,” he said, “There’s also a war on police.”
Fuller explained the Ryan and Rodney Hinton situation in Hamilton County, Ohio, explaining that Ryan was a thief who was going after law enforcement officers before being shot by officers. Not long after, Rodney (Ryan’s father) killed an officer who was directing traffic at the University of Cincinnati’s commencement ceremony by running him over with a vehicle.
Photo by Lydia Berglar – Special Agent in Charge Joe Montgomery with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was also awarded a special Outstanding Leadership Award for his 40-year-career.
Fuller continued, “Many of you may not be aware of this, but across the nation, a lot of money has poured into district attorney races like mine. The point of that money is to elect prosecutors who are focused on changing our criminal justice system across the nation, focused on not prosecuting crime, and specifically looking to charge police officers.”
He explained the Anthony Chavez case in Torrance, Calif. Officer Chavez followed a gang member who was stealing a vehicle. The gang member did not cooperate and reached for a gun, so Chavez and his partner shot him.
Fuller said, “One prosecuting officer looked at what Anthony Chavez did and said, ‘We’re not going to prosecute.’ $4 million of George Soros’ money later, Anthony Chavez and his partner are charged with manslaughter.”
He also cited the death of Chuck Dunn. Officer Dunn was tragically shot while off-duty, but Fuller remembered how this officer’s careful, brave response subdued an armed aggressor during an incident on Memorial Day 2023, both saving the aggressor’s life and the lives the man threatened.
Fuller told the officers present that he has law enforcement’s back. He asked the elected officials to consider the budgetary needs of law enforcement.
Of Abraham Lincoln’s quote, “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him,” Fuller said that our local officers can wake up each day knowing that their community is proud of them.
Carlton Stallings of the Georgia Fraternal Order of Police recognized the nominees for Officer of the Year. The nominees were:
- Deputy Denny Reyes—Dade County Sheriff’s Office
- Officer Sergeant Thomas “Trey” Williams—Trenton Police Department
- GWFC Kyle Faulknor—Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division
- MCO3 Andres Facemeyer—Motor Carrier Compliance Division
- TFC William F. Mefford—Georgia State Patrol
Faulknor and Facemeyer were absent from the ceremony.
Stallings noted Reyes’ responsibility, efficiency, and professionalism. He noted Williams’ promotion to sergeant and training officer, the certifications he’s earned, and his community involvement. He reported that the traffic stops Mefford conducted in 2024 resulted in 1,115 citations, and Mefford made 59 DUI arrests last year.
The Optimist Club and Fraternal Order of Police also awarded the Outstanding Leadership Award to Special Agent in Charge Joe Montgomery with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation for his 40-year-career.
