A Warren County Sheriff’s Office sergeant who has been making a difference in the lives of children recently received some recognition for his efforts.

Sgt. Mark Heyungs was among 16 men and women honored by Children’s Advocacy Centers of Kentucky at the Legendary Partners Ceremony on March 25 in Frankfort.

Nominated by the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, Heyungs worked investigations involving children during his tenure as a detective with the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

“Of all the crime victims, it is the children who deserve the most attention and help,” Heyungs said. “They don’t have a full understanding of what has happened to them or why. I believe it is my responsibility to ensure they not only get the justice they deserve, but access to every possible service that we can provide.”

Heyungs began his police career in the Army and served for seven years as a military police officer.

In 2008, he transitioned to work for the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division and worked as a special agent, team chief and assistant special agent in charge and spent some time as a special agent in charge at the Fort Polk CID Office.

“In those years, I worked with many different service providers who conduct the same type of service as our BRACAC,” he said.

In 2021, he retired from the Army and began his service at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

Heyungs said the community is fortunate to have “such an incredible center as BRACAC” and that they are the true heroes of our community.

“They deal with incredibly difficult situations involving children on a daily basis,” he said.

Heyungs learned in February that he was nominated by BRACAC for the 2025 Legendary Partners Award.

“I am humbled and grateful by the staff at BRACAC,” he said. “It is truly an incredible honor, and I was given the opportunity to travel to our capitol with a select few across our commonwealth to receive this great honor.”

Heyungs said the BRACAC staff treated him and his family to lunch before the event and, although only two of his six children could attend, “it was still a great experience for them to witness.”

“I am very proud of my kids and like to think of all the kids I work with as my own,” he said.

The Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center, which serves a 10-county region, uses a multi-disciplinary approach to provide vital services to children who experience child abuse, and quite often, sexual abuse.

Heyungs said that it is imperative that these children get the necessary counseling to help them through these traumatic events.

Leah Thompson, executive director with BRACAC, said Heyungs is not one to seek out public recognition, and the reason he was nominated was because of the way he treats the families served by BRACAC.

“He treats the children with such compassion,” Thompson said. “He is a very calming presence to the children and their families in what is most likely some of their darkest days. He is a team player who always shows up, regardless of the circumstances. He really just goes above and beyond.”

In January, Heyungs was promoted to the rank of sergeant at the Warren County Sheriff’s Office.

“It has been an unbelievable experience thus far working at our sheriff’s office,” he said.

And although he will not be working with the staff of BRACAC as much since his promotion, he said he will still try to visit because “they are the heart and soul of the service to our kids.”

“They are an impressive group and I am privileged to work with them anytime I can,” Heyungs said.