Contributed photo

Kathy Nguyen, an investigator with the Becker County Sheriff’s Office, was named Deputy Sheriff of the Year by the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association in early December, according to sheriff Todd Glander, left. Ngyuen began her career in Becker County as a corrections officer, prior to becoming a deputy sheriff, a  crime prevention officer and use of force instructor. Nguyen was promoted to investigator and is now the senior investigator at the sheriff’s office.