Kentucky State Police Announce Top Trooper, Detective, CVE Officer, Facilities Security Officer and Other Awards
Top Photo: Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown (right) and Kentucky State Police Commissioner Rodney Brewer (left) presented the Governor’s Medal of Valor to Barbara Teague (second from left) and Phyllis McGuire (second from right) of Campbellsburg, Ky., the widow and niece of Delano G. Powell, a Kentucky State Trooper killed in the line of duty in 1965, at a ceremony held in Lexington Thursday.
Lower Photo: KSP’s top officers for 2014 include (left to right) Officer Donald D. Saltzman, of Frankfort, (Facilities Security Officer of the Year); Detective Brett S. Miller, of KSP Post 1 in Mayfield (Detective of the Year); Trooper Brandon G. Burton, of KSP Post 10 in Harlan (Trooper of the Year) and Officer Erik K. Stallsworth of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Region 5 in Morehead (Jason Cammack Officer of the Year).
Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary J. Michael Brown presented the award to Powell’s widow and niece, Barbara Teague and Phyllis McGuire of Campbellsburg, Ky. on behalf of Gov. Steve Beshear.
“It is no small decision for the men and women who choose this duty and go out in the world each day to face violence, abuse, hatred, evil, greed and fear in pursuit of the public good,” said Gov. Steve Beshear. “Trooper Powell undoubtedly started his shift that day the same way he began each day of his career: with the full knowledge that the uniform he wore and the badge he carried made him a target to someone. It’s that selfless commitment to serve, to the point of sacrificing his own life, that we honor and recognize today.”
The Governor’s Medal of Valor is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an officer of the Kentucky State Police for conspicuous heroism in the line of duty under circumstances of extreme personal hazard. It is awarded only by order of the Governor. Including Tpr. Powell, 18 Kentucky State Troopers have been awarded the medal since 1973.
Powell was 28 years old and had been a trooper for 18 months, when he was shot and killed on July 8, 1965 while attempting to serve a warrant in Breathitt County. The perpetrator was later apprehended and convicted.
KSP also announced the 2014 Trooper of the Year, Detective of the Year, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officer of the Year, Facilities Security Officer of the Year and other awards for acts of bravery, life-saving, professionalism and dedication to duty at the ceremony.
Senior Trooper Brandon G. Burton, a Partridge, Ky. resident, was named 2014 Trooper of the Year. A four-and-a-half year veteran of the Kentucky State Police, he is assigned to KSP Post 10 in Harlan.
In 2014, Burton issued 889 citations including 16 for driving under the influence, 59 for speeding, 73 for seat belt violations and 20 for child restraint violations. He investigated 13 collisions, opened 44 criminal investigations, made 123 criminal arrests and completed 17 detailed intelligence reports.
As part of the post criminal interdiction team, Burton also gathered information that led to a $105,585 asset seizure that included 2,000 prescription pills, $16,000 in cash, 15 firearms and two vehicles.
Burton is a 2006 graduate of Cumberland High School. He is the son of Michael and Susan Burton of Partridge, Ky.
Detective Brett S. Miller, a Mayfield, Ky. resident, was named 2014 Detective of the Year. A 10-year veteran of the Kentucky State Police, he is assigned to KSP Post 1 in Mayfield.
Miller is a graduate of the Kentucky Criminalistics Academy and an expert in evidence collection and crime scene processing. In 2014, he was the lead investigator on several high profile cases including:
●a quadruple homicide in Trigg County that put his training, experience and skill to the test due to multiple crime scenes both inside and outside of a residence. Using a state-of-the-art three-dimensional scanner, he helped preserve and document evidence that led to the arrest and indictment of two suspects,
●a Livingston County case where human remains were discovered on a bank of the Tennessee River where Miller was able to locate additional remains partially buried in the sand. The evidence helped to identify the victim of a boating accident one year earlier and brought closure to the victim’s family,
●the successful death investigations of a prosecutor and police officer.
Miller is also active in the investigation of Internet Crimes Against Children complaints and conducts undercover computer efforts to locate and apprehend child sex predators.
A 1994 graduate of Calloway Co. High School, Miller is the son of David and Meredith Miller of Murray, Ky.
Officer Erik K. Stallsworth, a Mount Vernon, Ky. resident, was named the 2014 Jason Cammack Officer of the Year for the KSP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. A three-year veteran of the division, Stallsworth is assigned to CVE Region 5 based in Morehead.
In 2014, Stallsworth performed a total of 912 commercial motor vehicle safety inspections resulting in a total of 2,564 violations. He removed 245 driver and 306 commercial motor vehicles from the roadways that met the conditions of out-of-service criteria. He maintained a driver out-of-service rate of 27 percent and a vehicle out-of-service rate of 46 percent, which is above the national average.
Stallsworth issued a total of 2,026 citations during the year, 744 of which were on commercial vehicles. He served 39 warrants, investigated 18 vehicle collisions, removed 39 impaired drivers from the roadways and issued 506 speeding citations.
A 2005 graduate of Rockcastle Co. High School and a 2011 graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Stallsworth is the son of the late Frank Stallsworth and Marlene Stallsworth of Mount Vernon, Ky.
Officer Donald D. Saltzman, a resident of Frankfort and an eight-year veteran of the agency, was named 2014 Facilities Security Officer of the Year.
The KSP Citation for Bravery, an honor bestowed on officers of the agency who perform acts of bravery, without regard for personal risk, of clear and obvious peril and clearly above and beyond the call or risk of ordinary duty, was presented to:
CVE Officer Jared F. Newberry, Region 2, Louisville
Sergeant Jeffrey M. Ayres, Post 2, Madisonville
The Lifesaving Medal, awarded to officers who perform life-saving acts under extraordinary circumstances, was presented to:
Trooper Chad W. Gregory, Post 10, Harlan
Trooper Michael J. Brigmon, Post 10, Harlan
Sr. Trooper Jason E. Brown, Post 8, Morehead
CVE Officer Darvin E. Marsillett, Region 6, Pikeville
Sr. Trooper Jeremy W. Smith, Post 3, Bowling Green
Trooper First Class Ronnie R. Reynolds, Post 3, Bowling Green
The Citation for Meritorious Service with “V” Device for Valor, bestowed on officers of the agency who distinguish themselves by an act of courage performed under more than ordinary circumstances, was presented to:
Trooper First Class Jeffrey W. McWhorter, Post 2, Madisonville
Trooper First Class Mark L. Combs, Post 2, Madisonville
Trooper Kenneth W. Perkins (retired), Post 2, Madisonville
Sr.Trooper Kristopher L. Kirk, Post 14, Ashland
Sr. Trooper Joseph A. Vorbeck III, Post 14, Ashland
Captain Brian S. Bowling, Post 8, Morehead
Lt. John M. Dowdy, Post 8, Morehead
Sr. Trooper Patrick A. Zalone II, Post 8, Morehead
Trooper Corey P. Rich, Post 6, Dry Ridge
Trooper Joshua L. Giles, Post 6, Dry Ridge
The Citation for Meritorious Service, bestowed upon officers of the agency who distinguish themselves by an act of meritorious service of such exceptional character that it contributed to the success of a major command or endeavor, was presented to:
Sr. Trooper Mark D. Franklin, Post 1, Mayfield
Trooper First Class William C. Braden, Post 2, Madisonville
Trooper First Class Dewan M. Kelly, Post 4, Elizabethtown
Trooper First Class Everett E. Whitaker, Post 13, Hazard
Seventeen troopers were named Trooper of the Year at the post, branch or division level. They include:
Post 1 – Sr. Trooper Cory M. Hamby
Post 2 – Trooper First Class Bobby G. Winters
Post 3 – Sr. Trooper Jeremy W. Smith
Post 4 – Sr. Trooper Brad A. Riley
Post 5 – Trooper Brodie R. Jodry
Post 6 – Trooper Joseph F. Brown
Post 7 – Trooper Nathaniel K. Parke
Post 8 – Trooper First Class Bret A. Kirkland
Post 9 – Trooper Dustin S. Thompson
Post 10 – Sr. Trooper Brandon G. Burton
Post 11 – Trooper First Class Robert R. Loudermilk
Post 12 – Trooper First Class Jeremy M. Devasher
Post 13 – Trooper Erwin E. Eiserman
Post 14 – Trooper First Class Michael J. Murriell
Post 15 – Trooper Kevin A. Roberts
Post 16 – Sr. Trooper Aaron T. Pryor
Special Operations/Special Response Team – Sr. Trooper Austin P. Hicks
Eighteen troopers were named Detective of the Year at the post, branch or division level. They include:
Post 1 – Detective Brett S. Miller
Post 2 – Detective Lonnie M. Kavanaugh
Post 3 – Detective Matthew D. Cardwell
Post 4 – Detective Carlos A. Gabhart
Post 5 – Detective Joshua D. Noble
Post 6 – Detective Scott A. Lengle
Post 7 – Detective Jesse A. Armstrong
Post 8 – Detective David P. Zimmerman
Post 9 – Detective Christopher J. Dials
Post 10 – Detective Bryan E. Johnson
Post 11 – Detective Justin B. Oliver
Post 12 – Detective Christopher L. Masters
Post 13 – Detective Joel A. Abner
Post 14 – Detective Jeffery P. Kelley
Post 15 – Detective Bradly L. Stotts
Post 16 – Detective Christopher R. Baker
Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations East – Detective Nathan T. Moore
Electronic Crime Branch – Detective Wilmer A. Gatson
Six Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers were named Officer of the Year at the region level, including:
Officer Mark E. Townsend, Region 1, Henderson
Officer, Michael F. Moritz , Region 2, Louisville
Officer Mark A. Puckett, Region 3, Georgetown
Officer David L. Burton, Region 4, London
Officer Erik K. Stallsworth, Region 5, Morehead
Officer Darvin E. Marsillett, Region 6, Pikeville
The 2014 KSP Safe Driving Awards, which recognize the KSP post and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement region with the highest average number of safe driving miles between assessable accidents, were presented to KSP Post 4 in Elizabethtown and CVE Region 4 in London. Post 4 had a record of 996,600 miles with no assessable collisions. Region 4 had a record of 439,785 miles with no assessable collisions.
The KSP Citation for Meritorious Achievement, the agency’s highest civilian award bestowed upon individuals who performed an extraordinary act of service or heroism in direct support of an officer of the agency engaged in the official performance of duty, was presented to:
Theodore “Ted” Hampton, Corbin, Ky.
Ashton Cosby, Grand Rivers, Ky.
Billy Aull, Pine Knot, Ky.
George “Danny” Lay, Pine Knot, Ky.
Judy Wilson, Pine Knot, Ky.
Montgomery Co. Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Ralph Charles, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Former Sheriff Joey Johnson, Todd Co. Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Patrick Turner, Todd Co. Sheriff’s Office
