LEONARDTOWN, Md. — The St. Mary’s County Detention and Rehabilitation Center’s Food Services Division earned a Gold Star award from the St. Mary’s County Health Department for maintaining superior standards in food quality, sanitation, and service.
The Health Department presents the annual Gold Star Achievement Awards to food service facilities that consistently meet or exceed strict food safety requirements during routine inspections. These inspections focus on critical control points designed to prevent food-borne illness.
The Detention Center’s food services team, operated in partnership with Aramark, received the recognition for its ongoing commitment to excellence in a challenging correctional environment. Officials highlighted the dedication, attention to detail, and professionalism of corrections staff and food services personnel who prepare and serve meals daily while upholding rigorous safety protocols.
Warden Mary Ann Thompson, Environmental Health Specialist Colin Murphy, Aramark representative Sherry Coombs, and Heather Moritz, Director of the Division of Environmental Health, gathered for a photo to mark the achievement. The image shows, from left to right: Thompson, Murphy, Coombs, and Moritz.
The St. Mary’s County Health Department conducts regular inspections of all permitted food service operations across the county, including those in schools, restaurants, senior centers, and institutional settings such as the detention facility. Gold Star status is reserved for those facilities demonstrating exceptional performance over time.
In Southern Maryland’s correctional system, food service operations face unique demands, including preparing large volumes of meals under secure conditions while meeting the same health standards applied to public restaurants. The award underscores the team’s ability to maintain high cleanliness and safety levels despite these operational constraints.
St. Mary’s County Sheriff Steve Hall’s office and county leadership have emphasized the importance of quality services within the Detention and Rehabilitation Center, which houses both pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals. Safe, properly prepared food contributes directly to the overall health and orderly operation of the facility.
The Gold Star program encourages continuous improvement in food safety practices throughout the county. Recipients are recognized publicly, and an awards ceremony is typically held to honor all honorees.
This latest award adds to the growing list of Southern Maryland institutions achieving Gold Star status in 2026, reflecting strong collaboration between county health officials and facility operators. The Detention Center’s recognition highlights how even specialized food service environments can achieve top-tier compliance when staff prioritize sanitation and quality.
The achievement serves as a positive example of excellence within St. Mary’s County government operations, where daily services directly impact both staff and the individuals in custody.
