Special Recognition
Before the awards presentation began, we took a moment to honor a respected legacy. Sheriff Jerry “Peanuts” Gaines, who served as Warren County Sheriff for 40 years, was recognized for his exceptional service following his retirement. It was a pleasure to see him again and have the chance to visit.
Sheriff Gaines Seated. L to R: Sheriff Mike Jansen of Campbell County, KSA Executive Director Jerry Wagner, another long serving legendary sheriff, Sheriff John Aubrey of Jefferson County, and current Warren County Sheriff, Brett Hightower.
GOOD EVENING EVERYONE.
WELCOME TO THE RECOGNITION AND APPRECIATION PART OF OUR PROGRAM WE RE-VISIT A NEW CATEGORY THAT WE BEGAN LAST YEAR………
“THE DIRECTOR’S AWARD”
OUR FIRST RECIPIENT TO BE RECOGNIZED TONIGHT IS A YOUNG DEPUTY FROM THE HENRY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHO HELPS IN MANY WAYS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND ESPECIALLY AT THE STATE FAIR WORKING TIRELESSLY FOR MANY HOURS SELLING RAFFLE TICKETS FOR THE BAD BOY ATV.
WILL DEPUTY JEREMEY RAISOR PLEASE COME FORWARD
THANK YOU JERMEY.
OUR NEXT RECIPIENT IN THIS CATEGORY IS AN ORGANIZATION WITH A SOMEWHAT UNUSUAL NAME BUT ONE THAT ALSO PERFORMS CONSISTENT, UNUSUAL SERVICES OF SUPPORT FOR OUR BOYS AND GIRLS RANCH AND THE KSA. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE KUTTAWA CANNONBALL RUN & MIDWEST POWERBOAT ORGANIZATION.
AFTER LYON COUNTY SHERIFF, BRENT WHITE TOLD THIS ORGANIZATION ABOUT OUR CAMP FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AND THE CONSTANT NEED FOR RENOVATION AND UPKEEP
THEY HAVE LITERALLY TAKEN OUR CAMPING PROGRAM UNDER THEIR WING AND HAVE RAISED AND DONATED $30,000 OF SUPPORT EVERY YEAR SINCE 2022 TO FUND MANY NEEDED UPGRADES TO ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR SUMMER CAMPERS.
WILL THE DELEGATION FROM THE KUTTAWA CANNONBALL RUN & MIDWEST POWERBOAT ORGANIZATION PLEASE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT THE AWARD OF APPRECIATION?
WHEN RESEARCHING THE MANY DEFINITIONS OF A HERO ONE CAN FIND DESCRIPTIONS OF THOSE WHO ACT WITH COURAGE IN THE FACE OF FEAR . . . AND . . .THOSE WHO PUT THE SAFETY OF OTHERS BEFORE THEIR OWN.
HEROES COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES, COLORS, ETHNIC
BACKGROUNDS AND GENDER.
BUT THEY HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON. MOST WILL SAY THAT THEY NEVER THOUGHT OF THEMSELVES AS A HERO . . . AND . . . THAT THEY JUST DID WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE.
WELL IF THAT IS TRUE . . . . . THEN I SUBMIT TO YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN . . . . . THERE ARE MANY HEROES AMONG US TONIGHT.
AND TONIGHT, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HONOR JUST A FEW OF THEM.
SO. LET’S GET STARTED ON OUR “TRAIL OF HEROES”
OUR FIRST STOP ALONG OUR TRAIL FINDS US AT THE MEADE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHERE WE FIND DEPUTY SCOTTY SINGLETON A 25 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN.
HE IS OUT ON PATROL WHEN DISPATCH ADVISED THAT A WOMAN CALLER BELIEVED HER HUSBAND WAS HAVING A HEART ATTACK.
A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE WOMAN CALLED AGAIN TO SAY THEY WERE IN THE PARKING LOT OF A LOCAL CONVENIENT STORE AND THAT HER HUSBAND WAS NOW UNCONSCIOUS.
DEPUTY SINGLETON WAS CLOSE BY AND STOPPED TO SEE IF HE COULD HELP.
AFTER A ROUTINE CHECK, SCOTTY DETERMINE THAT THE MAN HAD NO PULSE AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED CPR AND CONTINUED UNTIL EMS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE.
DUE TO THE QUICK AND DECISIVE ACTIONS OF DEPUTY SINGLETON THE VICTIM SURVIVED HIS ORDEAL AND MADE A FULL RECOVERY.
WE PRESENT THE KSA LIFE SAVING AWARD TO MEADE COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF, SCOTTY SINGLETON
OUR NEXT TRAIL STOP TAKES US TO THE HARDIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHERE WE LEARN OF THE COURAGEOUS, LIFE SAVING EFFORTS OF THREE DEPUTIES.
IT WAS ON MAY 5TH OF THIS YEAR WHEN DEPUTY JAMES SHERRARD, NICK KRAHN AND LT. TAYLOR MILLER ARRIVED ON THE SCENE OF A HEAD-ON COLLISION ON THE WESTERN KENTUCKY PARKWAY
ONE VEHICLE WAS OVERTURNED, ON FIRE AND ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITH A MALE OCCUPANT TRAPPED INSIDE.
WITHOUT REGARD FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY THE THREE WENT INTO ACTION. TWO OF THEM BROKE OUT THE REAR WINDOW AND PULLED THE MAN OUT OF THE BURNING VEHICLE WHILE THE THIRD DEPUTY USED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO PUT OUT THE VICTIM’S BURNING CLOTHES.
FOR THEIR QUICK LIFE SAVING ACTIONS AND COURAGE
THE KSA LIFE SAVING AWARD AND MEDAL OF VALOR IS PRESENTED TO LT. TAYLOR MILLER AND DEPUTIES NICK KRAHN AND JAMES SHERRARD.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SERVICE
CONTINUING ALONG OUR TRAIL OF HEROES WE MAKE A STOP AT THE JESSAMINE CO. SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN NICHOLASVILLE KY.
THAT’S WHERE WE LEARN OF THE EXTRAORDINARY STEADFAST COURAGE AND DETERMINATION OF A WARRIOR ……. DEPUTY SHERIFF HANNAH ROSE.
IT WAS LAST SEPTEMBER ON A LONELY STRETCH OF RURAL HIGHWAY IN THE DARK OF NIGHT WHEN DEPUTY ROSE MADE A TRAFFIC STOP ON A SUSPECTED IMPAIRED DRIVER.
AS SOON AS THE DRIVER STOPPED HE GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE AND RAN TO A NEARBY HORSE FARM IN AN EFFORT TO ESCAPE. WITH NO BACKUP NEARBY, HANNAH GAVE CHASE.
WHILE TRYING TO MAKE THE ARREST, THE MAN TURNED VIOLENT AND VICIOUSLY ATTACKED DEPUTY ROSE. MAYBE HE THOUGHT BECAUSE SHE WAS A WOMAN AND HE WAS SO MUCH BIGGER THAN HER HE COULD EASILY OVERPOWER HER.
IF SO, IT WOULD BE A DECISION HE WOULD SOON REGRET.
THE DRUNKEN MAN WAS ON TOP OF HER REPEATEDLY STRIKING HER IN THE FACE AND HEAD AND TRYING TO GET HER GUN.
BUT HANNA NEVER GAVE UP. AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE KEPT FIGHTING BACK AND WITH A WARRIOR’S SPIRIT AND DETERMINATION …… WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET TO HER GUN AND FIRE ONE SHOT STRIKING HIM IN THE SIDE.
IT WAS AT THIS POINT THAT HER ASSAILANT GAVE UP THE FIGHT AND STUMBLED OFF INTO THE WOODS ONLY TO BE CAPTURED LATER.
HE EVENTUALLY RECOVERED FROM HIS INJURIES AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE DETENTION CENTER AWAITING TRIAL ON NUMEROUS CHARGES, INCLUDING ASSAULTING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
FOR HER COURAGE TO GO THE DISTANCE TO GET A DRUNK DRIVER OFF THE ROAD AT GREAT RISK TO HER OWN LIFE, THE KSA MEDAL OF VALOR IS PRESENTED TO A WARRIOR – JESSAMINE COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF, HANNAH ROSE.
OUR TRAIL OF HEROES TAKES A TURN NOW AND WE FIND OURSELVES AT THE FLEMING COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN FLEMINGSBURG, KY.
THIS IS WHERE WE MEET OUR NEXT HERO, FLEMING COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF DUSTIN COOPER.
IT WAS SATURDAY, JULY 13TH OF THIS YEAR WHEN DUSTIN RESPONDED TO A CALL CLAIMING THAT A HOMELESS MAN WAS THREATENING THE CALLER WITH A KNIFE.
UPON ARRIVAL IT WAS QUICKLY DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS NO SUSPECT OTHER THAN THE CALLER HIMSELF, WHO APPEARED TO BE SUFFERING FROM A METHAMPHETAMINE INDUCED PSYCHOSIS.
HE AGREED TO BE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BUT ONLY BY AN AMBULANCE. DEPUTY COOPER DECIDED TO FOLLOW THE AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED AT THE EMERGENCY ENTRANCE
THE SUSPECT JUMPED FROM THE REAR OF THE AMBULANCE AND RAN INTO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BRANDISHING A KNIFE.
DEPUTY COOPER WAS CLOSE BEHIND AND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DISARM THE MAN WAS SLASHED ON HIS UPPER LEFT ARM OPENING A DEEP 9 INCH WOUND.
EVEN THOUGH BLEEDING BADLY DUSTIN STAYED IN THE FIGHT FOR THE KNIFE AND FINALLY WAS ABLE TO DISARM THE MAN, AND WITH THE HELP OF OTHERS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM PLACE HIM IN HANDCUFFS.
DEPUTY COOPER WAS LATER TRANSPORTED TO UK HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY ON HIS ARM.
FOR HIS COURAGE TO STAY WITH THE FIGHT AGAINST AN ARMED ADVERSARY AT EMINENT RISK OF LIFE,
FLEMING COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF DUSTIN COOPER IS PRESENTED WITH THE KSA MEDAL OF HONOR.
AND NOW OUR TRAIL TAKES ANOTHER TURN AND WE ARE HEADED TOWARD FRANKLIN, KY. THE HOME OF THE SIMPSON COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
THIS IS WHERE WE MEET – CHIEF DEPUTY BRAD HARPER, A 27 YR. LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN.
IT WAS OCTOBER 7TH , 2023, WHEN BRAD LED THE SEARCH INTO A WOODED AREA TO FIND A HEAVILY ARMED MAN WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AND KIDNAPPING.
THE MANN HAD MADE EARLIER THREATS OF WANTING TO KILL AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
CHIEF HARPER ORGANIZED A SEARCH GRID USING UNITS FROM DIFFERENT AGENCIES WHO JOINED IN THE HUNT.
SUDDENLY THE SUSPECT OPENED FIRE ON THE SEARCHING UNITS FROM A CONCEALED POSITION IN THE WOODS.
CHIEF HARPER WAS TRYING TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF GUNFIRE WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A RIFLE ROUND IN THE UPPER LEFT CHEST JUST BELOW THE SHOULDER, RENDERING HIS LEFT ARM FUNCTION DISABLED.
HE CRAWLED TO A NEARBY BERM AND MOVED HIS RIFLE TO HIS RIGHT ARM AND BEGAN SCANNING THE AREA.
HE FINALLY LOCATED THE SUSPECT AND ENGAGED HIM IN CONFRONTATION. AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF GUNFIRE, CHIEF HARPER WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STOP THE THREAT AND SAVE ANY FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE.
FOR HIS COURAGE UNDER FIRE AT EMINENT RISK TO HIS OWN LIFE, SIMPSON COUNTY CHIEF DEPUTY BRAD HARPER IS PRESENTED THE KSA MEDAL OF HONOR.
CONTINUING ON OUR TRAIL ….. WE ARE HEADED FOR THE LAUREL COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
TO FIND DETECTIVE JACOB MILLER, A 9 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN.
ON FEBRUARY 4TH OF THIS YEAR THE LONDON CITY PD
INITIATED A PURSUIT OF A POSSIBLY STOLEN VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN BY AN ARMED, INTOXICATED DRIVER THROUGH DOWNTOWN LONDON.
THAT’S WHERE DETECTIVE MILLER JOINED THE CHASE.
THE PURSUIT CONTINUED INTO THE COUNTY A SPEEDS OVER 100 MPH….. SUDDENLY THE DRIVER STARTED SHOOTING AT THE PURSUING UNITS.
THE PURSUIT ENDED WHEN THE SUSPECT FINALLY STOPPED AND RAN FROM HIS VEHICLE WHILE SHOOTING BACK AT DETECTIVE MILLER AND THE OTHER OFFICERS. BULLETS WERE STRIKING POLICE CRUISERS ALL AROUND THE DEPUTIES AND OFFICERS.
MILLER RETURNED FIRE STRIKING THE SUSPECT WHO THEN FELL TO THE GROUND. MILLER AND OTHER OFFICERS WERE THEN ABLE TO TAKE HIM INTO CUSTODY.
SO, FOR HIS COURAGE UNDER FIRE WITH AN ARMED ADVERSARY THE KSA MEDAL OF HONOR IS PRESENTED TO LAUREL COUNTY DETECTIVE JACOB MILLER
AND NOW AS WE NEAR THE END OF OUR JOURNEY, OUR TRAIL BEGINS TO GET A LITTLE STEEP FOR WE NEED TO FIND TWO ROLL MODELS.
A DEPUTY OF THE YEAR AND A SHERIFF OF THE YEAR TO REPRESENT ALL OF US IN KENTUCKY
NOT AN EASY TASK WITH SO MANY GOOD DESERVING CANDIDATES….
BUT IT WAS MADE EASIER THIS YEAR WHEN FOR THE FIRST TIME BOTH OUR TOP COPS COME FROM THE
SAME SHERIFF’S OFFICE…….
WHAT A PROUD DESERVING HONOR FOR THEM, THEIR SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND ALL OF US.
SO LET’S MEET THEM ………..
FIRST, OUR 2024 DEPUTY OF THE YEAR.
FROM THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE, LT. RON WYATT.
A 30 YEAR LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN. AN EXCEPTIONAL LEADER, TRAINER, INVESTIGATOR AND SHERIFF’S DEPUTY.
HE HAS PLAYED MAOR ROLES IN SEVERAL HIGH-PROFILE CASES DURING HIS CAREER, MOST NOTABLY OVERSEEING THE PAPPY VANWINKLE BOURBON HEIST.
RON IS COMMITTED, DEDICATED AND FLEXIBLE. WHEN THE ELECTED JAILER UNEXPECTEDLY RESIGNED FROM OFFICE THE JAIL WAS LEFT WITHOUT EXPERIENCED LEADERSHIP.
THE DUTIES FELL TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE. WITH LITTLE NOTICE, LT. WYATT STEPPED IN AND WITHIN 3 MONTHS COMPLETELY TURNED THE OPERATION OF THE JAIL AROUND MAKING IT A MORE PROFESSIONAL, EFFICIENT SYSTEM.
THESE ARE BUT A COUPLE OF THE MANY HIGHLIGHTS SHOWCASING THE TALENTS OF OUR 2024 KSA DEPUTY OF THE YEAR
FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DEPUTY LT.
RON WYATT
AND NOW WE HAVE ONLY ONE MORE AWARD TO
RECOGNIZE
OUR 2024 KSA SHERIFF OF THE YEAR.
AND ONCE AGAIN WE LOOK TO THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF SHERIFF
GEORGE ‘CHRIS’ QUIRE
CHRIS IS A HONEST, COMPASSIONATE, CARING AND COMPETENT LEADER
HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS ARE WAY TOO NUMEROUS TO DO THEM JUSTICE DURING OUR BRIEF CEREMONY TONIGHT.
BUT LET’S BEGIN BY RECOGNIZING THE OBVIOUS: FIRST, HE TAKES GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A GOOD HUSBAND, FATHER, SON, FRIEND AND MENTOR TO MANY.
SHERIFF QUIRE’S OFFICE BECAME THE FIRST TO STAFF EVERY SCHOOL IN HIS COUNTY WITH AN SRO. DUE TO HIS LEADERSHIP, FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW HAS 13 SCHOOLS WITH SRO’S.
WE HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED THAT SHERIFF QUIRE’S OFFICE WAS HANDED THE UNEXPECTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE JAIL.
A CHALLENGE HE MET WITH OPTIMISM
THROUGH HIS LEADERSHIP OVER 200,000 DOLLARS IN IMPROVEMENTS WERE COMPLETED.
SHERIFF QUIRE ALSO IMPLEMENTED A HEALTH AND
WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR ALL EMPLOYEES OF THE FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
HE IS VERY INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY EVENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE INVOLVING CHILDREN
SHERIFF QUIRE IS A COPS COP, A COMMUNITY LEADER
AND THE KIND OF ROLE MODEL WE ALL WANT AS OUR 2024 SHERIFF OF THE YEAR
