The last four years of his life have not been kind to Lt. Anthony Barganier.

Bargainer, an 18-year veteran with the Greenville Police Department, had to watch his wife, Jackie, battle cancer, while both parents tried to raise a family of six. There were late nights, long weekends, and only a short time to say goodbye: Jackie Barganier died on March 23.

“It’s been an extremely difficult time for my family…with the cancer treatments and, ultimately, her passing,” said Barganier. “It’s been a major adjustment. We’re just trying to live day-to-day. I’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster.”

Mother’s Day, especially for his children, was a struggle, he said.

“Going to the cemetery was hard,” said Barganier. “We’re all still trying to adjust with life without Jackie.”

Barganier received the Officer of the Year award on Thursday during the department’s annual Police Officer Memorial Ceremony. It was a bittersweet moment for Barganier, who chuckled when he thought about what Jackie’s comments would have been:

“She would have said, ‘It’s about time,'” he said. “I wish she could have been here.”

Barganier is the tenth officer to receive the award since 2001. The award is sponsored annually by CorStone Industries’ owner Sam Roberts.

“I’m thankful to Chief (Lonzo) Ingram and my fellow officers for supporting me in this and Mr. Sam Roberts and the CorStone family,” said Barganier.

Thursday’s guest speaker was Teri Bozeman-Lovell, District Judge of Lowndes County. Lt. Justin Lovvorn received the Gary Wayne Heath Education Award, which is sponsored annually by Camellia Communications.

Afterwards, officers traveled to Sunrise Memorial Park to place a wreath on Heath’s grave. Heath was shot and killed in the line of duty on June 14, 1994.