The Clanton VFW Post 3193 named Billy Wayne Fulmer Sr. as Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.

Fulmer said it was quite an honor learning he had been nominated and selected.

“This award comes from a particular group of people who have done so much for this country,” Fulmer said. “It means so much to me that I was selected from a group of very fine officers who have done some great things in their careers.”

The award is given to an individual for outstanding service in the field of law enforcement to recognize their contributions to the community and service to the public the individuals serves.

Currently, Fulmer serves as an investigator for District Attorney Randall Houston’s office following a career in law enforcement that started in 1977.

Fulmer said his first job was in Clanton with the police auxiliary in 1977 and in 1979 he started full time as a police officer with the Clanton Police Department.

He served as chief of police for Maplesville and decided to run for sheriff where he was elected and served from 1999-2007.

“I then went to Afghanistan as a police officer and mentor in telling the Afghans how we handle things on certain cases in the United States,” Fulmer said. “It was then up to the Afghans to decide if they were going to go a certain route.”

Fulmer said he went to Afghanistan in April of 2007 and returned in 2008 after living on a firebase with American Special Forces.

“I have had a very interesting career but I have enjoyed everything I have participated in and it is a tremendous honor to be selected as law enforcement officer of the year,” Fulmer said.

“It is nice knowing that I at least did well and did well in my community and my county that I served. I was proud to be nominated.”

Fulmer will now be considered among officers from counties across the state to be selected as officer of the year for the state. If Fulmer is selected as a nominee, he would be sent to Washington D.C. for a national award.