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Honored by his peers: Coffey earns 'Trooper of the Year' |
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Friday, 04 December 2009 |
 Jonathan Coffey was named trooper of the year through a vote by other troopers at the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Staff photo/Karen Campbell By KAREN CAMPBELL
Assistant Managing Editor
A 28-year-old trooper with the Wapakoneta Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol says that being honored by his peers means more to him than any other award he could receive.
Jonathan Coffey, of Lima, said he always knew he wanted to be in law enforcement — there was no question in his mind.
What he was unsure of, however, was what line of the field he would pursue. He decided to finish his training before making that decision.
The 2000 graduate of Shawnee High School and 2002 graduate of James A. Rhodes State College, said while studying criminal justice, he decided to try for the Highway Patrol. He was attracted to its reputation, professionalism and high standards.
He entered the Highway Patrol Academy in April 2002 as a member of the 139th cadet class and was commissioned as a trooper on Oct. 4, 2002.
“I always wanted to be in law enforcement because I wanted to help people when they were in need,” Coffey said.
He said for the most part people are happy to see him arrive when they are undergoing a difficult situation on the road.
Eventually, Coffey said he would like to move up the career ladder with the Highway Patrol, but for now he still feels he has a lot to learn and he doesn’t have any specific goals set for himself to achieve.
Coffey has worked mostly second shifts during his tenure with the post and said he likes that.
“It’s busier,” Coffey said. “You get the aspect of the night time when more people are out.”
He’s been serving at the Wapakoneta Post since he started in the patrol seven years ago and said it’s got more to offer than some might think.
“I enjoy the area, you’ve got cities, country, interstate, a little bit of everything here,” Coffey said of days on the job full of a variety of calls and duties.
He was selected from among the 11 troopers at the post as “Trooper of the Year” in the fall.
Lt. Scott Carrico, commander of the post, said it is in recognition of his outstanding service throughout the year.
“Fellow officers stationed at the Wapakoneta Post chose trooper Coffey based on his leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude and his cooperation with supervisors, peers and the public,” Carrico said.
“Being chosen by your peers and supervisors to represent the post on the district and state level is a big honor and trooper Coffey has shown that he is deserving of this local award in 2009.”
Carrico said Coffey displays a strong work ethic, and is a dependable and reliable employee who enjoys his job while serving the residents of Auglaize and Mercer counties.
“For me, that’s a bigger accomplishment than going on and getting district ‘Trooper of the Year’ or anything else,” Coffey said. “These are the peers I work with everyday picking me for this honor.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 07 December 2009 )
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