Excellence Recognized: Walton County Official Honored Across Florida
In Brief:
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Who: Dawn Cooper, Walton County Jail Health Services Manager -
What: Named Florida Model Jail Standards Medical Inspector of the Year -
When: Award announced January 13, 2026; formal recognition in February 2026 -
Where: Walton County; recognition ceremony in St. Augustine, Florida -
Why: For leadership, collaboration, and excellence in correctional health inspections statewide
Walton County Jail Health Services Manager Dawn Cooper has been named the Florida Model Jail Standards (FMJS) Medical Inspector of the Year for the 2025 inspection cycle, earning statewide recognition for her leadership in correctional health care.
The honor, presented by the Florida Model Jail Standards Commission, recognizes outstanding performance among medical inspectors tasked with ensuring jail health operations across Florida meet constitutional and statutory requirements.
Florida Model Jail Standards serve as the minimum benchmarks jails must meet to protect the rights, safety, and health of incarcerated individuals. Oversight of those standards shifted to the local level in 1996, when legislation transferred inspection authority from the Florida Department of Corrections to a commission appointed by the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Florida Association of Counties.
This year’s award was especially competitive, with the FMJS Commission receiving a record 21 nominations from across the state before selecting the 2025 recipients.
Cooper, a 20-year veteran of the Walton County Jail, became a certified FMJS medical inspector in June 2024. Since then, she has participated in eight jail inspections statewide, including five conducted in 2025 alone. In addition to her inspection duties, Cooper has provided technical assistance to regional jails, helping facilities strengthen compliance and improve health services operations.
The Commission cited Cooper’s leadership, professionalism, and ability to foster collaboration between medical and security staff as key factors in her selection—qualities considered essential to safe, effective, and compliant jail operations.
Walton County Sheriff Michael Adkinson praised Cooper’s achievement, calling it a reflection of her dedication not only to Walton County but to correctional health standards across Florida.
“Dawn Cooper represents the highest standards of professionalism and excellence in correctional health services,” Adkinson said. “This recognition reflects her dedication to improving jail health services not only here in Walton County, but across the state of Florida.”
Cooper will be formally recognized during the Florida Model Jail Standards Commission meeting in St. Augustine in February 2026, held in conjunction with the Florida Police Accreditation Coalition Accreditation Conference.
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