TDOS Announces Trooper Of The Year

Nashville, Tennessee — The Tennessee Department of Safety (TDOS) today named Trooper Kevin Kimbrough Trooper of the Year 2006. The announcement was made during a promotions ceremony Monday, August 6, at 10:00 a.m., at the THP Training Center located at 275 Stewarts Ferry Pike in Nashville.

Trooper Kevin Kimbrough has been with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for nine years. For the past four years, Trooper Kimbrough worked undercover with the FBI in Cocke County and helped unveil corruption in a local sheriff’s department. He is also credited with making twenty felony arrests, issuing more than a thousand citations and arresting eleven people for driving under the influence. Trooper Kimbrough is currently stationed in the Fall Branch District.

Ten other members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol were also named Trooper of the Year for their individual districts.

Department of Safety Commissioner David Mitchell stated, “These Troopers represent the outstanding achievements of the men and women of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. I review positive reports routinely on enforcement accomplishments and service to communities by Troopers. Often, the public does not see the good work done by officers of this fine organization.”

Colonel Mike Walker added, “Many of these dedicated Troopers are being recognized for their hard work and enforcement activity and others for concern for their fellow man and community involvement, above and beyond their duties as a Highway Patrolman. All have exemplified Professionalism, Integrity, and Pride. I am proud of each one of them.”

Trooper Kelly Smith is stationed in the Knoxville District and has been selected for this award because he consistently demonstrates great professionalism and integrity, as well as compassion. Trooper Smith made more than twenty felony arrests last year and also helped a fellow trooper by paying his deposit for an apartment.

Trooper Kevin Hoppe has been named Trooper of the Year for the Chattanooga District, but he will have to share the honor with his K-9 partner “Ike.” The ten-year veteran made nearly fifty felony arrests and seized more than $200,000 last year.

Trooper Michael Marvin has been with the THP for five years and is assigned to the Nashville District. He was selected for this award because he consistently displays a caring and professional attitude, was top in his district in DUI arrests and was given the Crime Stoppers Award by Rutherford County.

Trooper Calvin Jenks was stationed in the Memphis District when he was killed in the line of duty on January 6, 2007. The Trooper of the Year Award will be presented to his family at a special ceremony to dedicate the Calvin Jenks Highway later this month.

Trooper Timothy Kring is currently stationed in the Cookeville District and has been a member of THP for five years. Trooper Kring led his district in the number of citations issued, handing out more than 1,800. He also made fifteen DUI and twelve felony arrests.

Trooper Kyle Burleson, a two-year veteran of the THP, currently works in the Lawrenceburg District. He was named as Trooper of the Year for his unselfish act of helping a family whose home was devastated by a tornado. Trooper Burleson personally paid for the family to stay in a hotel after learning they had nowhere to go and no money to pay for a room.

Trooper Michael Sullivan has been a member of the THP for five years and was selected for this award for having the highest number of DUI arrests and issuing nearly 1200 citations in the Jackson District.

Sergeant Steven Lowery has been named Trooper of the Year for the Field Support Services Bureau for his dedication and commitment to his job. In May, 2006, then Trooper Lowery witnessed a shooting while on his way home. He apprehended the suspect and turned him over to local authorities. Lowery was promoted from Trooper to Sergeant last year.

Trooper Scott Hines has been selected for this award for having superior knowledge of the law and his willingness to learn and share that knowledge with others. Trooper Hines is a ten-year veteran with the THP and is currently stationed at the Knoxville Scales.

Trooper Jason Winningham is a two-year veteran with the THP and is currently assigned to the Coffee County Scales. He has been named Trooper of the Year for his area because of his willingness to tackle any assignment and his determination to do the right thing.

TDOS also announced the promotions of five dedicated members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

David Allred has been promoted to Captain over the Cookeville District. His law enforcement career began in 1989 with the Tennessee Public Service Commission. Two years later, he was named the Commission’s Top Officer of the Year. In 1997, he became a part of the Criminal Interdiction Team and worked as a K-9 handler until he was promoted to Road Sergeant in 1999. In 2004, Captain Allred was promoted to Road Lieutenant and then Administrative Lieutenant. Captain Allred is a native of Clay County. He is married and has three children and one grandchild.

Twenty-one-year veteran Mike Allen has been promoted from Sergeant to Lieutenant in the Office of Professional Responsibility (formerly the Internal Affairs Division), which is charged with managing investigative and disciplinary processes for the Department of Safety. Lt. Allen started his career as a trooper in Warren County in 1986. In 2000, he was promoted to Midnight Sergeant in the Cookeville District. Lt. Allen has also served as Sergeant over Pickett, Overton and Fentress counties. He grew up in Gainesboro, but now calls Cookeville home.

Sam McCoy was promoted to Sergeant in the Nashville District after serving the past twelve years in Henderson and Madison counties. He was commissioned in 1984 and spent ten years in Obion County in the Memphis District before transferring to the Jackson District. Sgt. McCoy, a native of Ripley, attended Dyersburg State Community College and the University of Memphis. He is married and has four children.

Smithville native, Greg Tramel, has been promoted to Sergeant and is assigned to the Cookeville District. He started his law enforcement career fourteen years ago as a safety inspector. In 1996, Sgt. Tramel joined the Criminal Interdiction Unit. Since that time, Sgt. Tramel has also served as an educational officer for the Alternative Commercial Enforcement Strategies program and a K-9 handler in Putnam, Smith and DeKalb Counties. Sgt. Tramel is married and the proud father of two teenage sons.

Scott Staggs has been promoted to Sergeant over THP’s D.A.R.E. unit. He was commissioned as a Trooper in 1987 and has worked with D.A.R.E for more than four years. Sgt. Staggs lives in Lewis County.

The Tennessee Department of Safety (www.tennessee.gov/safety) is responsible for ensuring the safety and general welfare of the traveling public. The department’s general areas of responsibility encompass law enforcement, safety education and motorist services, including the issuance of driver licenses. The department and its highly trained staff of Troopers are responsible for safety on more than 15,000 miles of state and federal highways.