Manatee sheriff’s office employees honored

MANATEE — Three detectives and a dispatcher were recently honored as employees of the month of May at the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Detectives Jerome Diamond, Edward Foy and Stephen Ives were honored for their work on a homicide case resulting in the arrest of Delmer Smith III. Smith is accused of violently murdering Kathleen Briles, who was bludgeoned to death with a sewing machine in her Terra Ceia home Aug. 3, 2009, according to authorities.

Lee Harrington, who has been working as a dispatcher since November, was recognized for creating an employee database and simplifying other contact files.

-- Beth Burger