2005 Award Recipients

2005 Jason Cammack Officer of the Year

Officer Nathan Day

This is a prestigious honor and is only awarded to a sworn officer within the Department who possesses character, professionalism, demonstrated outstanding service, dedication and sacrifice to their profession.

The officer receiving this year’s award possesses and displays all of these qualities. This officer is always ready and willing to go beyond the requirements of the job.  This officer has performed 680 vehicle safety inspections and issued nearly eight hundred citations.  He also weighed over 400 commercial vehicles on portable scales.  This officer also spent four months with the Marijuana eradication team.  This officer has shown great dedication and commitment to highway safety in his pursuit to remove impaired drivers and illegal drugs from our highways.  This officer is always willing to make personal sacrifices for the betterment of the department, volunteering for every detail that has been offered.

This officer brings honor and distinction to the department with professionalism and never ending dedication.  This officer embodies the very spirit and enthusiasm that made Jason Cammack special. It is with great honor that we present the “Jason Cammack Officer of the Year Award” for 2005 to Officer Nathan Day.

Inspector Brent Johnson

The Inspector of the Year Award is given to an Inspector within this agency who has demonstrated outstanding service to his/her profession.

This Inspector although new to the agency is a proven asset already. This Inspector always projects a professional image and is a source of knowledge for those who seek clarification of regulations.  From May until December 31st this Inspector performed 958 Inspections.  There were 508 level one inspections, 448 level three inspections and 56 bus inspections.  228 were placed out of service for various violations. This Inspector has been instrumental in removing unsafe vehicles and fatigued drivers off the road making Kentucky’s highways safer for all who use them.

This Inspector thrives on hard work and loves being an inspector.  This Inspector represents the Department with pride and dignity.

Debbie Fisher

The Civilian Employee of thr Year Award is given to a civilian within this agency who has demonstrated outstanding service to their profession.

This employess has shown loyalty and dedication to Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement by setting and achieving goals that enhance this department's future growth. This employee devotes long hours selflessly to ensure that "everything" is done. This employee has eased reorganization of the department and the transition when new Directors are appointed. This employee takes great pride in her work. She is everybody's right arm. She deals with endless hours of phone calls, assisting with personnel issues, corresponding with numerous other agencies that have KVE issues. Her work ethics are impeccable and she is an exemplary role model for other civilian employees within this department and to other individuals who wish to become Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement employees. She is a tremendous asset to this Department. She has been and is everyone's ultimate answer to "if you can't find the answer any where else" you can call her with confidence knowing if she doesn't have the answer she will get it. She is the backbone of this Department. She brings honor and distinction to this department.

Sergeant Billy Dehart

The Meritorious Service Award goes to an employee who has distinguished himself and brought exceptional creditability to themselves and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement through their actions and accomplishments.

Serving Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement for nearly thirty years, this officer has demonstrated a strong loyalty to the agency including supervisors and fellow employees.

He has distinguished himself in courtrooms, traffic details, Weigh details and numerous other details and assignments.  He employs a dignified style of casual professionalism, communicating efficiently and effectively with both those employees serving under his direction and varied public and private sector personnel as well.

His impeccable appearance and authoritative demeanor give testimony to his moral and ethical character.  He represents the epitome of citizenship and public servitude. The public’s image of The Commonwealth of Kentucky and that of Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement is positively enhanced by the presence and performance of this officer.  His stellar record of devoted service is unmatched and he is deserving of this accolade.

Officer Charles Smith

The Meritorious Service Award goes to an employee who has distinguished their self and brought exceptional creditability to  their self and Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement through his actions and accomplishments.

On March 2, 2005 a commercial vehicle entered the weigh facility on I-65 in Simpson County.  The vehicle was parked due to a tax violation.  During the course of his safety inspection of the unit this officer recognized indicators of criminal activity.  Assisted by K-9 Officer Burke, he asked for and received consent to search the vehicle. The search revealed 763 pounds of Marijuana valued at $ 1.5 million dollars.

This officer not only participated in a controlled delivery, he also drove the truck to the delivery location himself.  This secondary enforcement effort netted multiple additional arrests of illegal drug suppliers.  This dedicated officer has brought honor and recognition to the department from federal agents and local law enforcement as well.

Officer Travis Rogers

The D.U.I. Award is given to a sworn officer within the department that has achieved the most D.U.I. arrests within a one-year time frame.

Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement’s mission statement is: To encourage and promote a safe driving environment through education and safety awareness while enforcing State & Federal laws and regulations, placing special emphasis on commercial vehicles.  The department has always taken pride in doing our best to accomplish this goal.  This year’s recipient has received statewide recognition and we would like to honor him with the D.U.I. Award for our Department.

This officer is a dedicated professional with a commitment to safety and has removed 375 impaired drivers from Kentucky highways.  He spends many of his days off in court taking precious time away from his family. His actions have brought honor and distinction to him and the Department.

Captain Marcus Schnepp
Officer John Halterman

The Bravery Award is given to an employee within the Department who performs extraordinary acts of bravery in the line of duty.

On May 3, 2005 two armed men robbed the First Federal Bank in Evansville, Indiana.  The Evansville Police Department began to chase the suspects and they fled into Kentucky.  Our Henderson Kentucky post was notified of the events.  Officers quickly with no thought to their own safety set up position on the Kentucky side of the river.  As the vehicle crossed into Kentucky the driver attempted to ram one of our cruisers.  Our officers maintained their calm and gave chase.  During the extensive chase a passenger in the vehicle fired several shots at the pursuing officers.  The driver of the fleeing vehicle wrecked and both occupants attempted to flee on foot.  Both suspects were apprehended with assistance from a canine without injury to them or any officers.

Sergeant Ken Hightower

The Life Saving Medal is awarded to an employee of this agency who has performed a life saving act under extraordinary circumstances.

On May 17, 2005, Sergeant Kenneth Hightower arrived home at the end of his shift. He and his wife herd screaming from the house next door. Thirteen-year-old Mimi Boggs was yelling "FIRE FIRE". Sgt. Hightower jumped the fence between the houses in time to see Ms. Boggs go back into the house and emerge with a flaming kettle of burning oil. She threw the kettle into the driveway and told Sgt. Hightower that the kitchen was on fire. Ms. Boggs had second-degree burns on her arms, hands and legs.

Sgt. Hightower entered the the house and saw that the kitchen was fully engulfed with flames. He ran out and told his wife to call the Fire Department. He then went back into the house with a garden hose and fought the fire untill the fire department arrived.

Parker Boggs (Mimi's father) said that if Sgt. Hightower has not intervened, the house would have been a total loss before the fire department could have arrived. 

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Award is a new award and is sponsored by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The award is given to one inspector and one officer who have excelled in contributions made toward commercial safety through education, training, public relation events and enforcement. The Awards Board received many deserving inspector and officer nominations for this award.

Officer Daniel Lewis

The 2005 Officer recipient is a knowledgable professional who has shown an overall committment to safety in the area of commercial vehicles. Officer Lewis has conducted over 1,100 safety inspections in the past year, issued over 400 commercial vehicle speeding tickets and given out over 180 safety related citations.

His supervisors use him to help train new inspectors and officers. Officer Lewis has dedicated his career to making the highway a safer place by diligently enforcing both state laws and federal regulations pertaining to commercial vehicles. His hard work and dedication has brought honor and distinction to him and the Department.

Inspector William Moore

The 2005 Inspector recipient is a knowledgable professional who has shown an overall committment to safety in the area of commercial vehicles. In the past year, William Moore has conducted over 1,800 safety inspections which resulted in over 300 vehicles being placed out-of-service. An additional 300 vehicles inspected by William delt with Hazdarous Material inspections.

His supervisors use him to help train new inspectors and officers. Through his never tiring work ethic, William has removed hundreds of unsafe drivers and commercial vehicles off our highways. His hard work and dedication has brought honor and distinction to him and the Department.