CENTRALIA — Two local detectives were recognized recently by the Department of Justice for their work in removing drugs from the area.

Detective Todd Timmermann of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and Detective Ryan Castleman, of the Marion County Sheriff’s Department, received the Distinguished Service Award along with FBI Special Agents Kyla Charter, Nick Manns and Marcia Moore, and ISP Agent Will Blackburn worked together on a meth and heroin conspiracy case.

U. S. Attorney Steve Wiggington & Assistant U.S. Attorney Kit Morrissey (both of the Southern District of IL presented the awards to the six honorees.

Wigginton says he’s concerned that of the 27 people arrested in the operation, 17 had prior felony convictions, but very few had been to prison.

One of the individuals, he said, had seven prior felony convictions and had only done a short time in prison. Of the 17 of the individuals in the Centralia operation who were convicted, they had a combined 54 prior felonies — almost three per individual — but most had not yet gone to prison.