Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office honors forensic investigator

Toie Brunow, a forensic investigator with the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office, was named the recipient of the 2015 Michael S. Reele Award, the third-highest honor the office bestows.

Brunow, an investigator with the sheriff’s office for 20 years, has investigated homicides, burglaries, officer-involved shootings, arson and other crimes, according to Sheriff Jeff Easter.

“Her work has been instrumental in solving these cases,” Easter said. “She is known throughout Sedgwick County and the state of Kansas as an expert in her field and is often consulted for her opinion on how to process or examine evidence.”

The award, which was named after the late Sedgwick County sheriff’s deputy, was presented Wednesday by his family, who had flown in from New England.

The higher awards the office bestows are the Silver Medal of Valor and the Gold Medal of Honor.

In addition to her work as an investigator, Brunow has helped with the office’s annual LAW Camp, which connects at-risk youths with deputy role models.

“(Brunow) sets the standard … has a positive attitude, and she brings out the best in others without thought of personal gain,” Easter said.

Multiple awards were presented by the sheriff’s office at the ceremony, honoring outstanding service and recognizing years of service. Among those honored:

▪ Reserve of the Year: Deputy Daniel Loeb

▪ Reserve Cadet of the Year: Kailyn Eischen

▪ Citizen Volunteer of the Year: Doug Metz

▪ 2015 Bronze Medal of Meritorious Conduct: Deputies Darren Redburn and Dustin Meuten

▪ 2015 Bronze Medal of Outstanding Service: Deputies James Maness, Edward Clark, LaShelle Forest, Nicholas Wohler, Landon Hoheisel, Kenneth Heater, Matthew McElwee, Eric Smith, Aaron Miller, Michael Jausel, Joseph Slaughter, Justin Maxfield and Daniel Mlagan; Detectives Jeremy Banning, Jon Gill, Matthew Hall, Brian Hollyfield, Keomi Johnson, Michael Littleton, Matthew Lynch, Jeremy Noel, Steven Olsen, Lori Werlein and Robert Holland; Sgts. Benjamin Blick, Jeremy Woodson, Wayne Ruffner, Timothy Forshee, Justin Antle, Nathan Gibbs, Randy Osburn, Lanon Thompson and Christopher Casanova; Lts. David Milam, Maurice Evans and Vincent Walker; Capts. Greg Pollock, Jay McLaurian, Willetta Moore and Jared Schechter; Reserve Capt. Andrew Mills; Cpls. Joe Simmons, Charles Brown, Cody Railing and Kimberly Wright; forensic investigators Toie Brunow and Tiffany Morland; administrative assistant Debbie Bailey; and administrative specialist Cherie Rodriguez.

This story was originally published January 13, 2016 at 7:39 PM with the headline "Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office honors forensic investigator."