FRANKFORT, KY – Today, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 more than 170 Kentucky state and local law enforcement officers were honored for extraordinary efforts to protect motorists from impaired drivers, in keeping with Gov. Andy Beshear’s high priority on highway safety.
The occasion was the Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards, held at the Hyatt Regency in Lexington and hosted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety. Those receiving awards represented more than 150 law enforcement agencies.
“Our law enforcement are the heroes who work to keep our families safe by ensuring impaired drivers are removed from our roadways,” said KYTC Secretary Jim Gray. “Their efforts are saving lives, and we are grateful for their dedication to the commonwealth and our people.”
Awards were presented to those with the most impaired-driving arrests in each agency and in each division from Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023. Award recipients received a plaque, while the top division winner was presented with the Highway Safety All-Star Award – a commemorative baseball bat from Louisville Slugger. There are six divisions, broken down by number of officers within the agency, and a division for Kentucky State Police:
- Division I 1-10 officers
- Division II 11-25 officers
- Division III 26-50 officers
- Division IV 51-100 officers
- Division V 100+ officers
- Division VIKentucky State Police
Brian Swift, executive director and CEO of the Tarrant County Medical Society in Fort Worth, Texas, and spokesman for the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving, addressed the attendees and praised their efforts to save lives in their communities.
“Today is more than just receiving an award,” said Swift. “It is about saving lives, and that is what officers do have the ability to do every time they pull over an impaired driver. The number of multi-substance impaired drivers on our roads today are staggering, and we must be diligent to enforce laws and utilize technologies that will ensure public safety.”
Swift’s parents were hit and killed by an impaired logging truck driver on March 20, 2013. His father, Tom, died on the scene, and his mother, Barbara, ultimately died of her injuries three days later.
“My whole life changed in a second, and it was 100% preventable,” said Swift. “Don’t be fooled: It can happen to you or your loved ones, and law enforcement is the first line of defense in getting irresponsible people off our roads.”
According to the KOHS, last year in Kentucky there were 4,127 total crashes involving an impaired driver, resulting in 1,990 injuries and 189 deaths.
“Too many families have lost loved ones due to this selfish act,” said KOHS Executive Director Bill Bell. “Our office will continue to support law enforcement efforts to remove impaired drivers from our roads, including providing federal funds for additional enforcement during this holiday season.”
The KOHS, Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies are partnering for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday enforcement campaign. Officers will be out Dec. 13, 2023, through Jan. 1, 2024, watching for any moving hazardous violation, with an emphasis on impaired driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds the campaign and reports high-visibility enforcement reduces impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20%.
Awards were presented to the following:
Ceremony photos can be viewed here.
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INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS |
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|
Title |
First Name |
Last Name |
Agency |
|
Sergeant |
Nathan |
Nogueras |
Alexandria Police Department |
|
Officer |
Ben |
Sullivan |
Anchorage Police Department |
|
Officer |
Tyler |
Ballard |
Ashland Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Colby |
Patterson |
Barbourville Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Brian |
Abell |
Bardstown Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Wayne |
Mays |
Bath County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Timothy B. |
McDaniel |
Beaver Dam Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Trevor |
Bonar |
Bellevue Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Shelby |
Tekulve |
Bellevue Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Jake |
Darnell |
Benton Police Department |
|
Lieutenant |
Chris |
Neal |
Berea Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Christopher |
Weires |
Boone County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
William |
Hendrix |
Bourbon County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Seth |
Hatfield |
Boyd County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Tyler |
Mitcham |
Brandenburg Police Department |
|
Major |
Michael |
Wolfe |
Breathitt County Sheriff’s Office |
|
Deputy |
Aaron |
Duncan |
Breckinridge County Sheriff Office |
|
Deputy |
Chad Edward |
Simpson |
Bullitt County Sheriff's Office |
|
Peace Officer |
Hunter |
Tweedy |
Burkesville Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Jonathan |
Barks |
Butler County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Nicky |
Knight |
Calloway County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Brian |
Coleman |
Calvert City Police Department |
|
Officer |
Kristen |
Fischer |
Campbell County Police Department |
|
Officer |
Elliott |
Taylor |
Campbellsville Police Department |
|
Officer |
James |
Dews |
Carrollton Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Jacob |
Atwood |
Casey County Sheriff's Office |
|
Police Officer |
Rafael |
Casas |
Cave City Police Department |
|
Officer |
Braden |
Riley |
Central City Police Department |
|
K9 Patrol Deputy |
Josh |
Strauch |
Christian County Sheriff's Office |
|
Corporal |
Jacob |
Waid |
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Police Department |
|
Officer |
Jeremiah |
Gailey |
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Stuart |
Morris |
Clark County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Nolan |
Verst |
Cold Spring Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Chris |
Brown |
Corbin Police Department |
|
Specialist |
Douglas |
Ullrich |
Covington Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Lance |
Watson |
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Ryan |
Rock |
Cynthiana Police Department |
|
Officer |
Aaron |
Steele |
Danville Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Nickolas |
Hines |
Daviess County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Ryan |
Fern |
Dayton Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
J. |
Buchanan |
Edgewood Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Dustin |
Clemmons |
Edmonton Police Department |
|
Chief of Police |
Bobby |
Sexton |
Elkhorn City Police Department |
|
Officer |
Keilo |
Jefferson |
Elkton Police Department |
|
Officer |
Chase |
Dewitt |
Eminence Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Jerod |
Lonaker |
Erlanger Police Department |
|
Detective |
Brett |
Ritchie |
Flatwoods Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Josh |
Patrick |
Fleming County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Haley |
Ransler |
Florence Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Matt |
Arlinghaus |
Fort Mitchell Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Geoff |
Lucas |
Fort Thomas Police Department |
|
Officer |
Taylor |
Bellau |
Fort Wright Police Department |
|
Officer |
Anthony |
Catania |
Frankfort Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Brandon |
Purnell |
Franklin County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Ben |
Miciotto |
Franklin Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Troy |
Willard |
Garrard County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Kaleb |
Hartley |
Georgetown Police Department |
|
Officer |
Grant |
Ward |
Glasgow Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Trenton |
Dalton |
Grant County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Garret |
Clark |
Graves County Sheriff's Office |
|
Sergeant |
Kyle |
Smith |
Grayson Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Aaron |
Gunterman |
Greenville Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Brian |
Maas |
Harlan County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Kenneth |
Helton |
Harlan Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Hunter |
Kelly |
Harrodsburg Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Lateef |
Johnson |
Henderson County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrol Officer |
Austin |
Miller |
Henderson Police Department |
|
Officer |
Jason L. |
Hendrix |
Heritage Creek Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Zachary |
Burton |
Highland Heights Police Department |
|
Officer |
Michael |
Dennis |
Hillview Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Terry |
Riley |
Hodgenville Police Department |
|
Detective |
Jonathan |
Knight |
Hopkinsville Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Jason |
Conrad |
Irvine Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Fred |
Neace |
Jackson Police Department |
|
Officer |
Brian |
Colebank |
Jeffersontown Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Hannah |
Rose |
Jessamine County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Isaac |
Owens |
Johnson County Sheriff's Office |
|
Conservation Officer |
Zachary |
Carney |
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife |
|
Sergeant |
Michael |
Hamblin |
KSP CVE Central Region |
|
Officer |
Michael |
Smith |
KSP CVE West Region |
|
Senior Trooper |
Landon |
Stewart |
KSP Post 01 |
|
Senior Trooper |
Justin |
Cornett |
KSP Post 02 |
|
Trooper |
Evan |
Smith |
KSP Post 03 |
|
Trooper |
Cameron |
Wright |
KSP Post 04 |
|
Trooper |
Colt |
McGuire |
KSP Post 05 |
|
Trooper |
Chris |
Johnson |
KSP Post 06 |
|
Trooper |
Bobby |
Estes |
KSP Post 07 |
|
Trooper |
Jordan |
Barnett |
KSP Post 08 |
|
Trooper |
Terry |
Mounts |
KSP Post 09 |
|
Trooper |
Joshua |
Jones |
KSP Post 10 |
|
Trooper |
Steve |
Walker |
KSP Post 11 |
|
Trooper |
Robert |
Stepp |
KSP Post 12 |
|
Trooper |
Skyler |
Taylor |
KSP Post 13 |
|
Trooper |
Tyler |
Daniels |
KSP Post 14 |
|
Trooper |
Trey |
Binder |
KSP Post 15 |
|
Trooper |
Clayton |
Jones |
KSP Post 16 |
|
Officer |
Jady |
Wade |
LaGrange Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Christopher |
Steward |
Lakeside Park-Crestview Hills Police Department |
|
Officer |
John |
Grevious |
Lancaster Police Department |
|
Chief Deputy |
Jamie |
Ferrie |
LaRue County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Tommy |
Houston |
Laurel County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrol Officer |
Robbie |
Lile |
Lawrenceburg Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Sammy |
Knopp |
Lebanon Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Tycondi |
Whitaker |
Leitchfield Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Corey |
Harr |
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office |
|
Officer |
Michael |
Steele |
Lexington Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Ron |
Luster |
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Quintin |
Wright |
Logan County Sheriffs Office |
|
Sergeant |
Drew |
Jackson |
London Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Teddy |
Newsome |
Louisa Police Department |
|
Detective |
Darell |
Wagner |
Louisville Metro Police Department |
|
Officer |
Mark |
Girten |
Louisville Metro Police Department |
|
Officer |
Lee |
Cravens |
Lyndon Police Department |
|
Sheriff |
Brent |
White |
Lyon County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Jeremey |
Hamilton |
Madison County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Dustin |
Scott |
Madisonville Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Kendric |
Smith |
Manchester Police Department |
|
Deputy |
John |
Ferguson |
Mason County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Nick |
Workman |
Mayfield Police Department |
|
Officer |
Cara |
Woods |
Maysville Police Department |
|
K9 Deputy |
Troyal |
Cox |
Menifee County Sheriff Office |
|
Patrolman |
Jacob |
Quillen |
Middlesboro Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Jared |
Garland |
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Cas |
Grass, Jr. |
Montgomery County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
William Blake |
Carver |
Morehead Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Jacob |
Patton |
Mt. Sterling Police Department |
|
Officer |
Zachary |
King |
Mt. Vernon Police Department |
|
Officer |
Brad |
Aubin |
Mt. Washington Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Kyler |
Harvey |
Muhlenberg County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrol Officer |
Griffin |
Deese |
Murray Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Patrick |
Reynolds |
Newport Police Department |
|
Officer |
Parker |
Harris |
Nicholasville Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Michael |
Platero |
Oak Grove Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Jacob |
Phelps |
Ohio County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Parker |
Thomas |
Oldham County Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Chris |
Fitzner |
Oldham County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Jakob |
Mueller |
Owensboro Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Justin |
Sutherland |
Owingsville Police Department |
|
Officer |
Alex |
Whitworth |
Paducah Police Department |
|
Officer |
Devin |
Helvey |
Paris Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Brian |
DeWaine |
Park Hills Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Zach |
Bowens |
Pikeville Police Department |
|
Officer |
Brandon |
Hollingsworth |
Pineville City Police Department |
|
Chief |
Jimmy |
Beadnell |
Powderly Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Keegan |
Williams |
Prestonsburg Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Chadwick |
Spence |
Raceland Police Department |
|
Officer |
Ryan |
Boyd |
Radcliff Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Charles |
Campbell |
Richmond Police Department |
|
Detective |
Samuel A. |
Brock |
Rockcastle County Sheriff's Office |
|
Deputy |
Gerald G. |
Wooldridge II |
Russell County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Mason |
Miniard |
Russell Springs Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
Greg |
Bellar |
Russellville Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Caleb |
Conley |
Scott County Sheriff's Office |
|
Sergeant |
John |
Duncan |
Scottsville Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Tavis |
Elzy |
Shelbyville Police Department |
|
Officer |
Travis |
Simmons |
Shively Police Department |
|
Patrol Officer |
James |
Fetty |
Simpsonville Police Department |
|
Police Officer |
Caleb |
Haynes |
Somerset Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Joseph W. |
Boyce |
Southgate Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Kevin |
Stallings |
Spencer County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Jonathan |
Milburn |
Stanford Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Ian |
Morton |
Stanton Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Andrew |
Regan |
Taylor County Sheriff Department |
|
Officer |
Billy G. |
Roberts |
Taylor Mill Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Derek |
Baumann |
Todd County Sheriffs Office |
|
Sergeant |
Joshua |
Oden |
Trigg County Sheriff's Office |
|
Officer |
Robert |
Vander Laan |
University of Kentucky Police Department |
|
Officer |
Chan |
Evans |
Vanceburg Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Jeremy |
Miller |
Versailles Police Department |
|
Officer |
Ashley |
Mairose |
Villa Hills Police Department |
|
Deputy |
Caleb |
Holloway |
Warren County Sheriff's Office |
|
Patrolman |
Jonathan |
Holbrook |
West Liberty Police Department |
|
Master Police Officer |
Dustin |
Lee |
Western Kentucky University Police Department |
|
Officer |
Hunter |
Holbrook |
Whitesburg Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Jacob |
Zink |
Wilder Police Department |
|
Officer |
Dorman |
Patrick, Jr. |
Williamsburg Police Department |
|
Sergeant |
Cody |
Blevins |
Williamstown Police Department |
|
Patrolman |
Wesley |
Craycraft |
Winchester Police Department |
|
DIVISION AWARD WINNERS |
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|
Division |
Title |
First Name |
Last Name |
Agency |
|
Division 1 |
Patrolman |
Colby |
Patterson |
Barbourville Police Department |
|
Division 2 |
Deputy |
Ron |
Luster |
Lincoln County Sheriff's Office |
|
Division 3 |
Deputy |
Quintin |
Wright |
Logan County Sheriff’s Office |
|
Division 4 |
Officer |
Alex |
Whitworth |
Paducah Police Department |
|
Division 5 |
Officer |
Michael |
Steele |
Lexington Police Department |
|
Division 6 |
Trooper |
Steve |
Walker |
KSP Post 11 |
Ceremony photos can be viewed here.
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