FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 20, 2025) – Today, state officials recognized nearly 100 state and local law enforcement officers, along with child passenger safety personnel, for their outstanding efforts to save the lives of drivers and passengers on Kentucky highways.

The annual Governor’s Occupant Protection Enforcement Awards, held in Lexington, recognized the dedication of individuals from across Kentucky who are committed to protecting travelers through seat belt and child seat enforcement efforts.

“There is nothing more important than protecting the lives of our people and I’m proud to recognize leaders who show up every day dedicated to this important work,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Through their efforts, more Kentuckians are safe on the road and able to return home to their family.”

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) Office of Highway Safety (KOHS) presented the awards to those with the most occupant protection citations in each agency and in each division from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. Award recipients received a plaque, while the top division winners were 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 VI Kentucky State Police

In addition to honoring law enforcement, KOHS also presented awards for Technician, Instructor and CPS Team of the Year.

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary Jim Gray addressed the attendees and praised their efforts to save lives in their communities.

“The work you do for the state is critical to protecting Kentuckians, especially our most vulnerable citizens who depend on an adult to keep them safe with every ride,” said Gray. “We appreciate your dedication, professionalism and heart to save lives.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), seat belts, when worn correctly, are proven to reduce the risk of fatal injuries to front-seat occupants by 45% and by 60% in pickup trucks, SUVs and minivans. Also, according to NHTSA, properly installed child restraints reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 71% for infants and by 54% for toddlers in passenger cars. In light trucks, SUVs and minivans, properly deployed child restraints reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 58% for infants and 59% for toddlers.

In Kentucky, 86.9% of drivers and passengers buckle up. Annually, more than half of all highway fatalities involving a vehicle reported unbelted occupants.

 

Child Passenger Safety Awards

Technician of the Year Awards
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Tasha Higgins The Nest
Instructor of the Year
Kinzie Evrard Norton Children’s Hospital
Team of the Year
Danville Fire Department

 

Law Enforcement Safety Awards

Division 1  
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Chief Aaron Ashby Adairville Police Department
Patrol Officer Austin Begley Bellevue Police Department
Patrol Officer Jason Blevins Hartford Police Department
Officer Charles Boeschenstein Southgate Police Department
Chief Billy Burton Hawesville Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Brian Cloyd Boyle County Sheriff’s Office
Patrolman Brian J. Coleman Calvert City Police Department
Lieutenant James Combs Stanton Police Department
Officer Cole Cordle City of Grayson Police
Sergeant Michael Garner Whitesburg Police Department
Sergeant John Grevious Wilmore Police Department
Officer Kenneth Helton Harlan Police Department
Sergeant Johnny Holbert Mount Sterling Police Department
Chief Brandon Hollingsworth Pineville City Police Department
Deputy Evan Knipp Carter County Sheriff Office
Patrolman Jeramie Long Jackson Police Department
Deputy Joseph Nelson Taylor County Sheriff’s Department
Deputy Jarred Perkins Nelson County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Jacob Purvis Owingsville Police Department
Chief James Richardson Hodgenville Police Department
Deputy Cory Skaggs LaRue County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Jared Smith Manchester Police Department
Chief Ben Smith Millersburg Police Department
Detective David Thompson Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
K-9 Deputy Kenneth Vincent Trigg County Sheriff’s Office

 

Division 2      
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Sergeant Jason Arms Prestonsburg Police Department
Deputy Josh Bailey Clark County Sheriff Department
Officer Matthew Bullard Villa Hills Police Department
Patrolman Zak Cline Morehead Police Department
Lieutenant Barry Cowan Middlesboro Police Department
Officer Tyler Creech Edgewood Police Department
Officer Michael Dennis Hillview Police Department
Deputy Nick Dues Calloway County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Officer Robert Fitzpatrick Oak Grove Police Department
Deputy Collin Garner Ballard Sheriff Office
Patrolman Dustin Hale Mount Vernon Police Department
Detective Dalton Hayes Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Galen Hinshaw Heritage Creek Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Peyton Jackson Graves County Sheriff’s Office
Police Officer William Zack Johnson Campbellsville Police Department
Deputy Jacob Johnson Mason County Sheriff’s Office
Sergeant Christopher Kohut Flatwoods Police Department
Sergeant Matt Lloyd Cold Spring Police Department
Patrolman Geoff  Lucas Fort Thomas Police Department
Deputy Ron Luster Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Michael Lyon Taylor Mill Police Department
Officer Joe Massey Simpsonville Police Department
Deputy/K9 Allen May Floyd County Sheriff Office
Sergeant Tim McCoy Central City Police Department
Deputy Michael Meece Oldham County Sheriff’s Office
Patrolman Jonathan Milburn Stanford Police Department
Sergeant Daniel  Miller Hazard Police Department
Deputy Chad Moody Simpson County Sheriff Office
Sergeant Nathan Nogueras Alexandria Police Department
Patrolman Justin Prater Pikeville Police Department
Officer Nicholas Rathbone Cynthiana Police Department
Patrolman Erin Rice Harrodsburg Police Department
Officer Oscar Sanchez Elsmere Police Department
Officer Michael Seidenfaden Lawrenceburg Police Department
Officer Jacob Smith Dayton Police Department
Commander Steve R Taylor Lancaster Police Department
Deputy Josh Travis Lyon County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Dallas Wills Franklin County Sheriff’s Office

 

 

 

Division 3      
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Patrolman Travis Ashcraft Winchester Police Department
Sergeant Jeffrey Childress Glasgow Police Department
Patrol Officer Samuel “Taylor” Davidson Paris Police Department
Patrolman Juan Davis Maysville Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Devon Evans Marshall County Sheriff Office
Sergeant Trevor Ford Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office
Deputy Sheriff Lukas Gabbard Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Nicholas Kerney Radcliff Police Department
Officer Cody King Somerset Police Deptartment
Deputy Michael Martinez Christian County Sheriffs Office
Police Officer Lane Owen Berea Police Department
Officer Storm Painter Campbell County Police Department
Officer Levi Preston Bardstown Police Department
Sergeant Aaron Rainwater Danville Police Department
Deputy Daniel Reed Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
Patrolman Patrick Reynolds Newport Police Department
Officer Jose Roman Jr. Mayfield Police Department
Patrol Officer Matt Semler Erlanger Police Department
Officer Seth Stewart Franklin Police Department
Officer David Watts Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Police
Sergeant Mark Wheeler Boyd County Sheriff’s Office
Patrol Officer David Williams Oldham County Police Department
Sergeant Danny Williams Murray Police Department
Deputy Sheriff Quintin Wright Logan County Sheriff’s Office
Lieutenant Jeremy Younger Shelbyville Police Department

 

Division 4    
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Officer Joshua Almasi University of Kentucky Police Department
Officer James Frint Ashland Police Department
Officer Aaron Gutermuth Jeffersontown Police Department
Captain Kenneth Keith Frankfort Police Department
Deputy Wayne Mayfield Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Officer Thomas Minter Elizabethtown Police Department
Patrol Officer Daniel Pennaman Henderson Police Department
Officer Dustin Scott Madisonville Police Department
Police Officer Jindriska Skees Richmond Police Department
Patrol Officer Michael Stanaland City of Florence Police Department
Officer Keith Thuline Paducah Police Department

 

Division 5    
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Patrolman Michael Davis Owensboro Police Department
Master Police Officer John Deeb Bowling Green Police Department
Sergeant Brandon Muravchick Lexington Police Department
Deputy Daniel Tracy Boone County Sheriff’s Office

 

 

Division 6    
Name of Nominee Agency Name
Trooper R Toney Allen KSP Post 7
Trooper Daniel Armstrong KSP Post 8
Sergeant Joseph R. Bartolotti KSP Post 2
Trooper Curtis Button KSP Post 5
Trooper Robert Dials KSP CVE East
Trooper Caleb Elmore KSP Post 14
Master Trooper Eric Hines KSP Post 4
Trooper Chris Johnson KSP Post 6
Trooper Joshua Jones KSP Post 10
Officer First Class Logan Lynch KSP CVE Central
Senior Trooper Jay Newcom KSP Post 16
Trooper First Class Derral Redwine KSP Post 1
Master Trooper Graham Rutherford KSP Post 3
Trooper Josh Smith KSP Post 15
Senior Trooper Justin Vanhook KSP Post 11
Trooper Justin Watts KSP Post 12
Trooper Branden Watts KSP Post 13
Trooper First Class Joseph Weddington KSP Post 9

 

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Ed. note: To view photos from the award ceremony, click here.