Several area law enforcement officers were among 200 officers from 175 agencies across Kentucky honored Wednesday for their efforts to target impaired drivers in 2018. Awards were presented to officers with the most impaired-driving arrests in each agency and Highway Safety All-Star awards were presented to the top three in each division.
Trigg County Sheriff’s Major David Tomlinson, Eddyville Police Officer Shannon Oliver, and Lyon County Sheriff’s Deputy Seth P’Pool received DUI awards in Division 1, which includes law enforcement agencies with 1 to 10 officers.
DUI awards for Division 2 (11-25 Officers) were presented to Oak Grove Police Officer Michael Platero and Princeton Police Officer Evan F. Head.
Hopkinsville Police Department Officer Sara Morris received a DUI award in Division 4 (51-100 Officers), and Kentucky State Police Post 1 Senior Trooper Aaron Acree, and KSP Post 2 Trooper Cody Kromer were also recognized with DUI awards.
According to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, last year in Kentucky, there were 5,350 crashes related to impaired driving, resulting in 2,781 injuries and 154 fatalities.
The 2018 Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Awards ceremony was held Wednesday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington.
Meanwhile, the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, Kentucky State Police and local law enforcement agencies are partnering for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over holiday enforcement campaign December 14 through January 1. Officers will be watching for any moving hazardous violations, with an emphasis on impaired driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration funds the campaign and states high-visibility enforcement reduces impaired driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent.