LIBERTY — The Thomas’ Recognition of Excellent Employee (T.R.E.E) service award is an annual award that was started in 2019 to recognize the hard work, dedication and loyalty of the workers of the Liberty Police Department.

Each year the T.R.E.E. service award recipient is chosen by Chief Adam Gilstrap and a panel of employees. This year’s winner was awarded to Cpl. James “Jay” Freeman.

Freeman served as a state trooper for the South Carolina Highway Patrol for nine years before joining the Liberty Police Department force in August 2015. In June 2016, Freeman was promoted to the rank of corporal. Since that time, Freeman has been placed over the training department.

Freeman has been praised by the community for being courteous and informative during police encounters. The Liberty Police Department would like to congratulate Freeman as the 2021 T.R.E.E. service award recipient.