Location: Exeter Veterans Memorial Building

Incident Date: 3/2/19

Incident Time: 1900 hours

City: Exeter

Posted by: Media Relations

Deputy Matthew Conley was named Officer of the Year Saturday, March 2, 2019, at the 28th annual Community Services Safety Recognition Dinner at the Exeter Veterans Memorial Hall. The awards dinner was sponsored by the Monsignor Joseph W. Balker Council 9068 of the Knights of Columbus Exeter/Farmersville.

Deputy Conley said he was humbled to receive the award. 

“It’s quite the honor,” he said. “I appreciate the recognition.”

He thanked the Knights of Columbus for hosting the event and his wife and children for their support.

Deputy Conley is a patrol deputy at the Visalia Substation and also serves as a UAV Unit drone operator. 
Additionally, he paves the way for new deputies by serving as a Field Training Officer and he’s been a member of the Sheriff’s Honor Guard for nine years. 

Presenting him with his award was Captain Mark Gist. 

“We are very proud of Deputy Conley,” he said. “He has a special way of communicating with people and this talent has been proven time and time again.”

Most recently, Deputy Conley was responsible for shutting down a crime wave that plagued the outskirts of Exeter, Lemon Cove and Lindcove. By reaching out to community members and establishing a positive relationship, he was given crucial information that resulted in numerous arrests, Captain Gist said. 

Volunteers with Peace Officer Memorial
Deputy Conley volunteers as President of the Board for the Tulare County Peace Officer Memorial & Education Foundation. Etched in stone, the Memorial lists the names of peace officers who were killed in the line of duty dating back to 1889. 

His own father gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty when Deputy Conley was 7 years old. 

“My father’s name, Monty Conley, is on the Tulare County Peace Officer Memorial,” he said. “That’s one of the reasons I am involved with the Memorial.”

His father, Detective Monty Conley, was killed along with his partner, Detective Joe Landin, in a traffic accident while investigating a narcotic’s case on Aug. 5, 1985. 

Deputy Conley helped raise more than $150,000 to renovate the Memorial, located on the northwest corner of Burrel Avenue and Woodland Street. Remaining funds were given in scholarships to families of fallen officers. 

Now, he’s helping raise funds for a K-9 Memorial in light of Tulare Police K-9 Bane who was killed in the line of duty in 2018. He said he hopes to raise $25K and have the Memorial in place for the Peace Officer Memorial ceremony on May 8.

Began his law enforcement career in detentions

Deputy Conley was hired as a Correctional Deputy in 2008. He worked in the jails until 2014 when he attended the Tulare-Kings Counties Basic Peace Officer Academy. After graduation, he worked as a patrol deputy in Pixley and, a year later, in Visalia. 

He said he enjoys being a Deputy.

“I like talking to the public and helping people,” he said. “I like being there for the public.”

Deputy Conley was born in Lindsay, grew up in Woodlake and graduated from Woodlake High School in 1996. 
He attended Fresno State University and graduated with a degree in history. In 2007, he worked as a substitute teacher before getting hired at the Sheriff’s Office in 2008.

He lives in Visalia with his wife and two children. Deputy Conley said he enjoys riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle and spending time with his family.