Morgan County Probation Officer Sean Bryner has been named West Virginia Probation Officer of the Year.
Bryner, of Berkeley Springs, has worked for the county’s probation 
department since 2004, and also performs duties across the entire 23rd Judicial Circuit, which also includes Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
Supreme Court officials announced the award, which is made by the West Virginia Association of Probation Officers, on Friday, April 19.
Bryner was nominated by Eleventh Judicial Circuit (Greenbrier and Pocahontas Counties) Probation Officer Dustin Martin.
Any member of the Association can nominate any other member for the Officer of the Year Award. The award is based on a probation officer’s involvement and dedication to his or her office and community.
In his nomination letter, Martin said Bryner is smart and inspiring to those in their field and in the Association of Probation Officers. Bryner is the president of that organization.
“Sean, in his role as president, continues to inspire me and others to work just a little bit harder, or think just a little bit deeper about issues that impact us all throughout West Virginia,” Martin said in his nomination letter. “Sean has a brilliant and analytical mind that is impressive to witness.”
Bryner is a 1999 graduate of West Virginia University and has a 2004 master’s degree from the University of Maryland. He is enrolled in an online graduate degree program of the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions at Arizona State University, working toward a graduate certificate in Criminal Sentencing and Sentencing Advocacy.
“I’m grateful for Sean’s good work for our judges and the folks who come under supervision. This is quite an honor considering the many excellent probation officers in our circuit and the state. Sean deserves this recognition,” said Chief Twenty-Third Judicial Circuit Judge Michael D. Lorensen.
Bryner was elected to the board of the West Virginia Association of Probation Officers in 2013 and has been president of the Association since 2017.
“Sean’s intelligence, excellent work ethic and quick sense of humor secured him a firm place in the folds of the Twenty-Third Circuit,” said Danielle Hofe, Morgan County’s head probation officer and chief officer for the 23rd Judicial Circuit.
Martin and Hofe praised Bryner’s ability to work with the Supreme Court Administrative Office in Charleston.
“Acting as a liaison during times of transition at the Administrative Offices, Sean has worked diligently to ensure that our needs and requests are heard and often met.”
“Building positive relationships over the course of his tenure, Sean is forthright and conscientious of the challenges that face probation officers in our state. Conveying these concerns clearly and concisely, Sean has proven to be an invaluable asset to not only the board, but to every probation officer statewide,” Hofe said.
Bryner is married and the father of two daughters.
He has received other awards for his work in child abuse prevention and community building.
