Murphys, CA…On May 29, 2025, the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club honored the outstanding achievements of several local first responders. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office appreciates the significance of this annual event, which provides an excellent opportunity to acknowledge and honor the dedication and service of our deputies. We are proud to announce that Corporal Kaitlyn Spears has been honored with the distinguished “Deputy of the Year” award. This distinguished award was presented to Corporal Spears by Sheriff Rachelle Whiting.

Corporal Spears joined the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office in June of 2017. She was hired as a Correctional Officer and spent several years working in our correctional facility. As a correctional officer, she was selected as a K9 handler and had the first jail-assignment law enforcement K9 for our department. Her dedication and work with that K9 on cell searches elevated the level of safety for all of our correctional staff working amongst the incarcerated population. Working in our custody bureau, Spears was promoted to the rank of Correctional Corporal and Jail Training Officer.

In 2021, Corporal Spears applied for and was selected to attend the police academy. Upon completing the academy and the field training program, she began her career as a deputy sheriff in 2022. In 2023, she was promoted to the rank of Corporal, assumed the role of Field Training Officer, and became a first-line supervisor. In addition to her daily duties, she is also a senior member of our Crisis Negotiations Team. She has participated in Several deployments with the Sheriff’s Crisis Response Unit and was among the team recently honored with a Unit Citation Award for meritorious and exemplary performance during an operation involving a barricaded subject. Additionally, she was recognized, along with her colleagues, with a Unit Citation Award for her contributions to the Cold Case Task Force, a group that has redefined commitment to service, volunteerism, and justice, ensuring that no person is forgotten.

Corporal Spears is currently assigned to the Investigations Division as a detective. Her strong problem-solving skills, critical thinking, collaborative attitude, and teamwork are evident in her handling of long-term investigations involving serious crimes against our community.

On behalf of Sheriff Whiting, the entire Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office, and the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club, we are grateful for the opportunity to recognize a deserving employee with the Angels-Murphys Rotary Club Deputy of the Year Award.