Lehman CHANDLER - The lawenforcement official who discovered a mentally disabled man was being held captive by relatives here in March has been named the Henderson County Peace Officer of the Year.

"I was not expecting it," Chandler Assistant Chief James Lehman said. "I wish everyone involved could have won this award. But I’m grateful. It’s an unbelievable experience."

While serving a felony warrant at 7418 County Road 3409 on March 6 with Henderson County Deputy Fire Marshal Danny Wilson, Lehman found 42-year-old Kerry Paul Cotton sitting on a bed in a locked room filled with human waste.

"We went room to room, and we noticed in the hallway a door was shut with a latch at the top," Lehman said. "I asked the girl what was in there, and she said, `Oh, that’s just my retarded uncle.'"

Cotton was wearing an adult diaper and was so unkempt he reminded officers of "an animal," Lehman said.

Alyssia Johnson, 19, was charged with injuring a disabled person. Her boyfriend, Curtis Durham, 19, was charged with failing to report a felony.

Johnson’s father, Roy Johnson, 47, had been wanted for illegal dumping. He was later arrested in Tyler along with his wife, Lea Johnson, 45.

Both were charged with injury to a disabled person.

Adult Protective Services took custody of Cotton. He was treated at East Texas Medical Center.

"APS said he was in a good place," Lehman said.

Members of the Henderson County Peace Officers Association in Athens voted Thursday for Lehman to receive this year’s award.

In 2006, the Chandler Brownsboro Area Chamber of Commerce named him the Policeman of the Year and, as a Henderson County deputy, he received the Life Saving Award in February 2000.

"James came to me about eight years ago and after having been here a year or two, he showed me that he had potential to be more than just a patrol officer," Chandler Police Chief Ron Reeves said.

"James has shown dedication and commitment to the department and that same commitment is what he showed the day he found the man locked in the room. He has made me and the department proud and has been a right hand to me without complaints. I appreciate him very much."

Lehman, a Navy veteran, has been assistant chief for six years.He’s been a peace officer since 1996.

He and his wife, Melissa, have three children, Jessica, 20; Jacob, 18; and Jamie, 16.