Rockwall County Names Mandy Landers, Deputy Jennifer Turnbaugh Employees of the Quarter

Rockwall County Commissioners Court named Mandy Landers of the Human Resources Office and Deputy Jennifer Turnbaugh of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office as “Employees of the Quarter (4th Quarter 2025).” The county’s announcement stated that “Mandy Landers of the Human Resources Office and Deputy Jennifer Turnbaugh of the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office were recognized by Commissioners Court,” but it did not detail the accomplishments that led to their selection.

The county’s Recognition and Rewards program designates one Sheriff’s Office employee and one non-Sheriff’s Office employee each quarter, and it lists eligibility, selection criteria and standard awards. Regular full-time and regular part-time employees may be nominated; elected officials, department heads and temporary employees are not eligible. The program says nominations may come from elected officials, department heads and employees, and that the selection committee may request supporting documentation. Employees of the Quarter are eligible for a $50 gift card, a plaque, a designated parking space for non-law enforcement winners and public recognition during Commissioners Court and the Employee Christmas Luncheon. Employee of the Year benefits include a $250 gift card and similar recognition.

The county announcement was brief and left several practical questions unanswered for residents and observers who track public-sector accountability and staffing. The News Flash named the winners for the fourth quarter of 2025 but did not describe the actions, process or documentation that led to the awards. Some secondary coverage identified a different quarter, which creates ambiguity about timing; the county designation uses the 4th Quarter 2025 label.

Rockwall County has a history of using the Employees of the Quarter program to spotlight operational contributions and public-service actions. Past recognitions cited in county-area reporting include Deputy Felipe Sauceda’s lifesaving intervention at a Luby’s restaurant on May 5, 2018, and Dayna Foreman’s work in the Indigent Healthcare Department that reportedly saved the county $63,000 in jail healthcare costs. County Clerk Jennifer Fogg previously recognized Chief Deputy Joanna Maestas for work on a cloud migration project, saying, “Joanna has proven her dedication and to the staff by taking complete ownership of working with Tyler Technologies with regard to the Amazon Web Services upgrade.” That Maestas recognition was presented as a separate, earlier award.

For residents, clear reporting on why county employees receive public recognition matters for transparency and trust in government operations. Commissioners Court’s naming of Mandy Landers and Deputy Jennifer Turnbaugh follows the program’s established practice of highlighting one Sheriff’s Office and one non-Sheriff’s Office employee each quarter, but local officials have yet to publicly explain the specific contributions behind this latest honor. Expect follow-up reporting that will seek biographical detail, the committee’s selection rationale and confirmation that the standard awards were delivered.