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Ohio Valley Law Enforcement Honored in Ohio County for Making Highways Safer

Photo by Scott McCloskey AAA East Central honored 10 Northern Panhandle law enforcement agencies for their efforts in keeping local highways and communities safer during a luncheon Thursday at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant at The Highlands. Participating in the luncheon are, from left, Paden City Police Department Patrolman 1st Class Raphe Bailes, Hancock County Sheriff Chief Deputy Art Watson, Brooke County Sheriff Larry Palmer, AAA East Central Regional Safety Adviser J.J. Miller, Ohio County Sheriff Chief Deputy John Schultz, McMechen Police Chief Don Dewitt, Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard, West Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Michael Kief, Marshall County Sheriff Kevin Cecil and Wetzel County Sheriff Mike Koontz.

Northern Panhandle law enforcement agencies were honored for their efforts in keeping local highways and communities safer.

AAA East Central honored the agencies Thursday during a luncheon at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant at The Highlands. J.J. Miller, AAA regional safety adviser, said the agency gave 10 West Virginia departments platinum awards, while an additional eight were honored with gold, silver or bronze awards.

Miller said officers representing each agency were treated to lunch and received plaques as a way to recognize their safety efforts.

“All of the officers have addressed issues within their community,” Miller said.

She said law enforcement encounters a variety of situations patrolling roads, from impaired to aggressive drivers.

“They have targeted all of these initiatives to make sure the roadways are safe for everybody traveling. It’s just one way of saying that AAA is proud of what they do out there,” Miller said. “These officers go out everyday without thinking about their own safety first … so we want to make sure these officers are honored in a custom they should be. They’re out there risking their lives every day for people they don’t even know.”

The platinum awards were given to “Commendable Leaders” for their safety efforts and enforcement activities geared towards making communities safer. The recipients of the prestigious awards included police departments in Wheeling, Moundsville, New Martinsville and Weirton. Sheriff departments in Hancock, Marshall, Ohio and Wetzel counties and West Virginia State Police in Moundsville and Wheeling were also given platinum awards.

Gold awards, the second highest recognition, were awarded to the Brooke County Sheriff’s Office and McMechen and New Cumberland police departments. Silver awards were given to police departments in Benwood, Cameron, Follansbee and Paden City. A bronze award was given to the Wellsburg Police Department.

“We are honored to recognize these local departments for their efforts in the Community Traffic Safety Program,” said Theresa Podguski, director of legislative affairs for AAA East Central. “Each organization has gone above and beyond their call of duty to make their community a safer place for motorists and residents.”

Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard said it is a “great privilege” to be honored by AAA. He said it is a nice tribute to all the deputies and officers that are out working on the roads performing duties such as speed enforcement and DUI patrols.

AAA East Central conducts free highway safety programs throughout West Virginia. The club also partners with law enforcement and safety agencies on initiatives to improve the safety of the community and local highways. AAA East Central is a nonprofit association with 80 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia and serves 2.7 million members.

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