The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office recently received the news that it has been recertified as a Georgia State Certified Law Enforcement agency. The office is one of only 22 in the state to have that designation. Hall County Sheriff Gerald Couch, who serves on the board of directors of the Georgia State Law Enforcement Certification program, came to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office on Aug. 31 to present an award to Sheriff Jeff Johnson and his staff commemorating the agency’s achievement. “Basically what (certification is) is making sure that you’re doing the right thing in the right way and this sheriff’s office is doing just that. It also represents a very significant professional achievement for the agency,” Couch said. “State certification is not given. It’s earned. Each and every member of this agency has to earn that certification.” Certification is a voluntary program through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and is re-evaluated every three years.