slideshow

Debbie Caldwell

Editor

The Kentucky State Police announced the 2011 “Trooper of the Year” and “Detective of the Year” for Post 10 at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort recently.

Trooper Jason Young was awarded “Trooper of the Year” for Post 10, which covers Harlan, Bell and Knox counties.

Young could be considered a warrior in his duties, as he performs his job just as he was trained to do. He is a 10-year veteran, who recently received the Excellence in Highway Safety Award for highest number of speed citations. He wrote 4,025 speed citations in 2011.

Young was moved into the STEP (Selective Traffic Enforcement Program) in 2010. His has succeeded in his goal in helping to reduce the number of fatalities and wrecks occurring on the two heavily traveled highways of U.S. 119 and U.S. 25E.

According to KSP Dispatcher Supervisor Hollace Wilson, the number of fatalities in the Post 10 area has reduced by 20 percent over the past two years since Young took on the STEP position.

Young was also named the Kentucky State Police Post 10 “Trooper of the Year” in 2009 after he issued 2,664 citations and made 94 DUI arrests and 265 criminal arrests within a year. He also won the DUI Award for making the most DUI arrests within a year.

“Trooper Young is an outstanding road unit and works extremely hard in the STEP initiative,” said KSP Lt. Jason Adams. “He contributes each year in trying to make the highways a safe place for people to travel. He’s does extremely well at enforcing laws, such as speeding, seat belt use and impaired drivers. He’s outstanding in his duties.”

Det. Kenny Abner has been awarded “Detective of the Year.” He has been with the Kentucky State Police for seven years and a detective for two years.

Abner can be credited with making arrests is high profile cases, such as armed robberies and murders.

“Det. Abner has been a great asset to the Kentucky State Police,” Adams said. “He’s been in law enforcement for many years now — working at the city, county and state level. He has a lot of contacts and resources. He does a fine job as detective.”