The El Dorado County Probation Department celebrated during Probation Services Week

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It is not every day that a group of coworkers gets together for a week-long celebration and their boss is leading the party, and honoring them for a job well done.

That is what this week has been for the El Dorado County Probation Department on both sides of the county during Probation Services Week. Officially, it is Pretrial, Probation, and Parole Supervision Week which is recognized across the county. This is celebrated annually to recognize the work of community corrections professionals.

In El Dorado County there is a staff of 122 in the department, with a portion of them based in South Lake Tahoe where there are ten officers and two supervisors that work out of the local office and provide court services for both juveniles and adults, supervision of those on parole, as well as behavioral health court services.

Richart said many don't understand what the probation staff does daily. He said people see a badge and a gun and hear the word 'probation' but those things are a small aspect of the job.

"This is a noble profession and it's the connection and relationships," Richart said of what makes them successful. "We are effective only with solid relationships."

"It's nice to be appreciated for what we do," said Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Vanessa Wood last year about leadership taking the time to recognize them. "It's a tough job."

Probation is about creating relationships with people and building trust, said Wood. She said only once their clients' basic needs are met can they be successful.

On Monday, the South Lake Tahoe team was treated to an ice cream sandwich party before they volunteered at Bread & Broth's Monday Meal.

Since 2014, El Dorado County's Chief Probation Officer Brian Richart has cooked up a big breakfast for staff. He manned a grill with his specialized spatula on Tuesday in South Lake Tahoe, cooking up pancakes, eggs, and bacon. He repeated what he did in South Lake Tahnd again on Thursday on the West Slope.

Also on Tuesday, Richart spoke before the Board of Supervisors, highlighting the special week and praising his staff as they read a proclamation into the record. There was also a blood drive in the department's Shingle Springs office.

On Wednesday there was the annual awards ceremony where staff from the whole county came together.

Many enjoyed the management-sponsored cornhole tournament, and on Friday, the recognition week wraps up with the famous "Nachos Friday."