By-Line: Joseph Bober, FCSO
On May 14, the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club recognized Flagler County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Nicholas Champion as one of their three Law Enforcement Officers of the Year. Members of the club honored the Master Deputy Champion during the club’s 19th annual Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Awards Luncheon held at the Southern Recreation Center in Palm Coast.
Master Deputy Champion joined FCSO in 2017. He currently serves as a School Resource Deputy, where he is assigned to Flagler Palm Coast High School, and as a member of the K-9 Unit.
Additionally, the Master Deputy Champion has led the FCSO Explorers Program since 2022. Under his leadership, FCSO Explorers have won numerous awards at statewide and national competitions. For his efforts leading Explorer Post 410, Master Deputy Champion was named the Florida Sheriff’s Explorers Association’s 2024 Northern Regional Advisor of the Year and the National Sheriffs’ Association’s 2025 Law Enforcement Explorer Post Advisor of the Year.
“Master Deputy Champion has done an outstanding job revitalizing our Explorers Program and is an excellent representative of the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office as he mentors our youth not only through the Explorers but also in his capacity as a School Resource Deputy,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “I want to thank the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club for recognizing his efforts with this award and for their continued support of all three of our county’s law enforcement agencies. Congratulations to the Bunnell and Flagler Beach officers, too.”
Along with Master Deputy Champion, the Kiwanis Club also recognized Officer Morgan Snyder of the Flagler Beach Police Department and Public Safety Officer Rommel Scalf of the Bunnell Police Department.
Sheriff Staly served as the keynote speaker during the luncheon.
Members of the Flagler/Palm Coast Kiwanis Club alongside recipients of the Law Enforcement Officers of the Year awards and their respective agency leaders.
