SERVICE TO OTHERScontinues

Dep. Justice McDaniel earns first scholarship honoring longtime RCC instructor

By Lorie McCroskey

Colonel Fred “Freddie” Rutledge II spent his life serving others. Whether it was in his 38 years of law enforcement with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Department or teaching new officers as the Coordinator and Instructor of Basic Law Enforcement Training at Randolph Community College after his retirement from the sheriff’s office, he was always helping people.

When Rutledge died in July of 2020, his friends and family quickly raised enough money to start a new endowed scholarship in his honor. The scholarship would help a student in the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program where Rutledge had once taught.

The first student to receive the scholarship is now serving in the same department where Rutledge spent his entire career — the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office.

Deputy Justice McDaniel has been on the job since February of 2022 and knows all about Colonel Rutledge.

“I met Col. Rutledge before I deployed in 2019,” he said. “He seemed like a great man and was very helpful with getting me in the right track to becoming an officer. I am proud to say, due to some of our conversations back in 2018-2019, it helped me make the right decisions toward getting into law enforcement."

McDaniel is thankful for the kindness of the friends who donated to the scholarship fund to honor the hero’s memory.

“I am so grateful for receiving this scholarship, not just for the money to help pay back some of my book fees,” he said. “I have had the opportunity to work in the same department as Freddy did. I have talked to so many coworkers who worked with Freddy and knew him on a personal level. Hearing what kind of officer and mentor Freddy was is very inspiring to me. “

The legacy scholarship that Colonel Rutledge’s friends established to honor his memory will continue to help future law enforcement officers for many years to come.