An annual award ceremony brought special recognition to two upstate police officers for their work over the past year.The Russ Sorrow Memorial awards are given out in honor of a Greenville police officer who was shot to death in September 1996 while pursuing a suspect.  James Russell Sorrow, 26, had a wife and infant son at the time of his death.Officer Michelle Lentz, with the Greenville Police Department, received the award for her efforts to prevent gang violence in the Nicholtown community."I've been doing this for a couple of years now -- trying to work with the gangs and the youth," Lentz told WYFF. "I really think the best way to curb gang activity is to start with the youth when they're young."Inv. Keith Morecraft, with the Simpsonville Police Department, was awarded for his work on the murder of John Ferrell in January.  Ferrell was shot to death at the home of his estranged in-laws, who claimed that Ferrell had broken into the residence.  Police said further investigation revealed that Ferrell's estranged wife, Jane Hughes, along with her parents, brother and boyfriend intentionally lured Ferrell to the home so they could kill him. "It feels really good to be honored for our hard work," Morecraft said. "It wasn't just me. It was a whole team of us.I accepted the award on behalf of everyone who worked on the case."Honorable mentions went out to Sgt. Randle Ballenger with the Greer Police Department, Lnc. Cpl. C.J. LaDue with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and MD Mike Giovanni with the Greenville County Sheriff's Office.A special  rose presentation also took place to honor the memory of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.