Rutherford County Sheriff's Office Telecommunicator Jamie Morten was named Tennessee's Terminal Agency Coordinator of the Year by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

The TAC serves as a point of contact for the FBI and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation from agencies using the National Crime Information Center.

Morten received the award from support specialist Ginger Irons of the TBI's Criminal Justice Information Services.

"Jamie volunteered to be part of the FBI's pilot program for audits and succeeded," Irons said while presenting the award. "As TAC, Jamie has successfully completed all audits for her agency with no out of compliance issues."

Sheriff Robert Arnold has made improvements in communication and added Information Technology to make communications more secure, Irons said.

During her employment with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, Morten has been involved with numerous TBI and FBI NCIC audits. Through these audits she has gained extensive knowledge and has been able to assist other agencies in preparing for their audits.

Morten trains 120 certified operators and ensures all certifications are current. She was also instrumental in certifying and training her agency's IT division through the required CJIS Security Awareness Training, as well as developing a thorough understanding of the CJIS Security Policy.

In accepting the award, Morten thanked the communications division employees, her family and the Sheriff's Office employees for their support.

Sheriff Arnold said Morten is organized in her job responsibilities.

"Jamie makes sure the Sheriff's Office complies with all federal and state regulations regarding the NCIC use and trains officers who use the system," Sheriff Arnold said. "We are proud she was recognized for her efforts."

Morten said she was shocked by the award.

"It's a huge honor for me," Morten said. "It's the highest award I can get in my position. Without the support of everyone at the Sheriff's Office working with me, I would not be able to accomplish this."

Morten and her husband, Sheriff's Patrol Cpl. Tyler Morten, served in the U.S. Air Force before joining the Sheriff's Office in 2002. They have two children, Tristan, 15, and Emma, 10. Her sister, Angie Sievers, is a dispatcher at Cannon County 911. She has served as TAC for six years.