Law enforcement and judicial personnel bid a fond farewell to Lt. Edwina Maclin on Friday at a retirement reception recognizing her 28 years of service to Lauderdale County.
A TAC officer at the Lauderdale County Detention Facility, Maclin was tasked with making sure deputies, detention officers and other authorized people followed proper procedures when accessing the National Crime Information Center. A federal database operated by the FBI, the NCIC is a trove of information for law enforcement including data on wanted fugitives, stolen property, missing persons, criminal histories and more.
With her red pen at the ready, Maclin was known for making sure work was done correctly but also taking time to help new faces understand why such procedures were in place.
“There are certain people in county government that you just know don’t cross, and this was one of them,” said Sheriff Ward Calhoun. “And that’s OK because that’s what it took to make sure the job got done right.”
Lt. Andy Matuszewski said Maclin’s efforts helped make him, and countless others, better at their jobs.
“We may not have got it right, but you made sure we knew how from then on,” he said. “It wasn’t just, ‘You’re not doing this right,’ it was ‘This is what you need to do, and this is why.’ I’m immensely better because of it.”
Maj. Melissa McCarter, who oversees the Lauderdale County Detention Center, said Maclin was influential in her career as well as the careers of many deputies and detention officers over the years.
Maclin said she is leaving her work in good hands and appreciates the effort deputies and detention staff put in their jobs each day.
“It was a blessing,” Maclin said. “I appreciate everybody because most of you all played a part in my being here.”