A North Fork resident who joined the Madera County Sheriff’s Office as a Citizen on Patrol in January 2001 has died. She was 82.
Betty Lyons received numerous commendations and awards during her nearly decade-long service to COPs before retiring in 2009, sheriff’s department spokeswoman Erica Stuart said.
Prior to joining the sheriff’s COP program, she spent 16 years with the North Fork Fire Department, and proudly told many that she drove a code 3 vehicle, Stuart said. Lyons also worked with Kaiser in Oakhurst for four years.
Lyons learned about the COPs program in 2000 during a community service event sponsored by the sheriff’s office. With her background, she knew this was the job for her, Stuart said...