Law enforcement officers, agencies honored for impaired-driving enforcement

Ceremony salutes efforts to keep Kentucky roads safe

KY TRANSPORTATION CABINET

News Release

FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) honored 205 law enforcement officers from 175 agencies across the Commonwealth for their efforts to target impaired drivers on Dec. 13. 

The 2016 Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards ceremony was held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington. Awards were presented to officers with the most impaired-driving arrests in each agency.

Local winners include:

Division 1 (1-10 officers) — Casey County Sheriff Deputy Chad Weddle, overall division winner with 42 citations; Perryville Police Chief Parker Hatter; Liberty Police Lt. Ronnie Smith; Boyle County Deputy Sheriff, Al Isaacs; Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Sean Brown.

Division 2 (11 to 24 officers) — Harrodsburg patrolman Timothy J. Wren.

Division 3 (25-49 officers — Danville Police officer Toney Dollins Jr.; Danville Police officer BrandonRecord

Kentucky State Police — Post 7, Trooper Justin Kearney; Post 15, Trooper Lincoln Lawless.

KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement — Region 2, Senior officer Michael Moritz; Region 5, Officer II Erik K. Stallsworth

“We are honoring those who put their lives on the line each day to save the lives of others,” said KOHS Executive Director Dr. Noelle Hunter. “These officers, their departments and agencies render a great service for all Kentuckians, and on behalf of Governor Matt Bevin, we say thank you.”

Kentucky State Police Commissioner Richard Sanders commended the aggressive enforcement and awareness efforts.

“Impaired driving is one of the deadliest crimes in this nation and it impacts thousands of innocent lives every day,” said Sanders. “Today is more than just receiving an award. It is about saving lives and that is what each of you do every time you arrest an impaired driver.”

Last year, more than 5,900 crashes involving alcohol and/or drugs in Kentucky resulted in more than 3,100 injuries and 162 fatalities. 

The KOHS, Kentucky State Police and other law enforcement agencies are partnering for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday enforcement campaign Dec.15 through Jan. 1. The campaign is funded through NHTSA, which says high-visibility enforcement reduces impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.