The Bogalusa Rotary Club honored Detective Sgt. David Miller of the Bogalusa Police Department as the club’s “Policeman of the Year” during Tuesday’s club meeting.

Every year, the club honors a member of the law enforcement community who goes above and beyond in serving the public.

Bogalusa Police Chief Joe Culpepper said that Miller was a deserving choice for the annual honor.

“There’s not a harder working officer that we have,” Culpepper said.

Culpepper noted that Miller not only works hard with investigations, but also is a great help in other areas — including maintaining and storing evidence, and working on the sex offender registry.

He noted that Miller joined Culpepper and other local officials in responding to the major tornado in Columbia, Miss., in December 2014.

Miller said that he spent 16 years in the communications industry before making a career change at the age of 37.

“I always wanted to be a cop,” he said. “I wanted to make a difference in somebody’s life, especially the life of a child.”

Miller joined the Bogalusa Police Department in 2001.

“I consider every officer in that uniform my family,” he said.

Miller noted that it is a tough time to be an officer, with so many media reports and other sources that demean the work and integrity of police. He said there are certainly some who abuse the badge, but those few “bad apples” shouldn’t spoil every police officer’s reputation.

Miller said that he appreciates the public’s support and asks for their prayers.

“We’re just a few good men and women against a world of evil,” he said. “We’re a bunch of good people who all have families and kids, just like you.”