Staff Writer

The Matt Peake Award of Excellence is given to a Fairfield County Sheriff's Office deputy who exemplifies integrity and professionalism in his or her personal and professional lives.

The recipient also is respected by his or her fellow officers and the community for their dedication to serve and protect citizens.

This year, that person is Union County resident Lisa Hyder, a corporal with the sheriff's office. Mrs. Hyder received the award during the office Christmas party.

“I was speechless,” Mrs. Hyder said. “We were sitting at the table and when she (Peake's mother, Jackie) started describing the person and said the person had worked at Jonesville, I stopped. I knew she was talking about me because no one else had worked at Jonesville.”

The award is named for Peake, a deputy who died in a house fire on Aug. 5, 2007. Chief Deputy Keith Lewis said the office names a deputy of the year annually, but this year Peake's mother and some other relatives asked if they could present an award in honor of Peake and Sheriff Herman Young decided to incorporate the awards.

“This is for the officer who goes above and beyond the call of duty; who does more than average,” Lewis said. “Lisa has been here eight or nine months and we are fortunate to have her here. She does a good job and is very deserving of the award.”

Mrs. Hyder got her start in law enforcement as an officer at the Union County Jail in 1997. She also has worked for the Jonesville Police Department, the Union County Sheriff's Office and the Winnsboro Department of Public Safety. She knew Peake and worked with him at Winnsboro and Fairfield County.

She and her husband, Steve, have three children between them, Brittany Cogdill, 17; Amanda Cogdill, 15; and Hannah Hyder, 12. Mrs. Hyder's brother, Jimmy Tesner, is an officer with the Pacolet Police Department. They are the daughter and son of James and Louise Tesner.

Mrs. Hyder said she really enjoys her job and is proud to work for such a professional group.

She said she hopes to advance in her profession.

“My goal is to go as high as I can in rank, whether it be investigator or whatever,” she said. “I feel like here I have a good chance. They are fair here and it's based on job performance.”