Exchange Club Public Safety Chair Carla Carlson, Lt. Stan Stalnaker, Dalton Ridgdill and Capt. Rusty Harrellson at Officer of the Year presentation.

TIFTON — The Exchange Club of Tifton recently recognized Dalton Ridgdill, communications equipment officer, as Georgia State Patrol Officer of the Year.

GSP Capt. Rusty Harrellson and GSP Lt. Stan Stalnaker present the award, state officials said in a statement.

Ridgdill has been in the communications department of the Georgia State Patrol for four years.

Harrellson said communications is one of the most important aspects of the department. Dispatchers have to deal with a lot of personalities, not only from troopers, but also from callers.

“(Ridgdill) does an excellent job of listening, being polite and professional,” Harrellson said. “I wish we had more like him.”