MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – Milwaukee County leaders gathered Wednesday to honor retired Acting Sheriff Richard Schmidt.

At a ceremony, Schmidt was given a special award by current Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.

Schmidt was recognized for his 32 years of service to MCSO.

He was given the David Demos Award, named after a sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty in 1997. It’s the highest and most prestigious award given to recognize dedication to law enforcement.

“These folks, I truly love you dearly,” Schmidt said. “I miss you. My time here was just phenomenal working with you.”

Schmidt led the department for 16 months before Sheriff Lucas won the Democratic primary and then ran unopposed.

The two said they have nothing but respect between them.

“In campaigns there’s the victor and then there are those that are vanquished,” Lucas said. “But in this case, I think we have the benevolent and we have the benefactors. We have the benevolent in Richard Schmidt.”

Since retiring, Sheriff Schmidt has been traveling to speak at churches across the nation.