Vicksburg and Warren County’s top law enforcement officers and firefighters, and state troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, will be honored Feb.15 when the Vicksburg Homecoming Benevolent Club hosts its 33rd annual officer of the year banquet.

The banquet will be 7 p.m. at American Legion Post 213, 1618 Main St. Admission is $10.

VHBC president Willie Glasper said the idea for the banquet came from a conversation with police officers more than 30 years ago about the lack of community support and recognition for law enforcement.

“They were just talking about (how) they never get recognized for what the department does, and from that conversation, I took it to the club and asked them if we could recognize the officers of the year.”

The first year, he said, the organization honored police officers. The next year, sheriff’s deputies were included, “And then later we went to the fire department.”

The fire department nominees, Glasper said, include emergency medical workers.

“In fact, some of the EMTs have received the award,” he said. “They’re (the nominees) in with what the fire department gives us; if it’s EMTs or firefighters, we go with that.”

This year, he said, state troopers will be recognized for their service in the county.

“We had been trying to work that out, because you were dealing with such a wide area, so we decided to include the units that are serving the Warren County area,” he said. “Six officers serve the area, so we’ll be getting nominees from the department on them.”

Glasper said the nominations are determined by the chiefs and department heads.

“What they look at is the work they (officers) have performed during the year, and submit the bios and training. If there’s some specifics that need to be recognized, then we address those.

“We have had some who have been nominated for the awards, and then there are some who have done something outstanding, like save a life, and not nominated for the award, and we’ve given them an award anyway.”

The VHBC is a nonprofit organization that helps the needy through financial assistance, utility assistance and scholarships, but Glasper said the banquet is not a fundraiser.

The admission is used to help cover the costs of the event.