Clarksburg Police Officer Among Those Recognized by Governor's Highway Safety Program
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on May 19, 2026
CHARLESTON — Aligning with National Police Week (May 10–16, 2026), the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program (GHSP) hosted its annual, invitation-only Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Awards Luncheon Thursday, May 14, 2026, at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
The event recognized over 100 law enforcement agencies and individual officers from across the state for their exceptional traffic safety enforcement and data-utilization efforts during the 2025 calendar and federal fiscal year.
The annual luncheon highlights rigorous enforcement and public awareness campaigns targeting key traffic safety priorities, including Impaired Driving (DUI), Speed and Distracted Driving, Occupant Protection (Seat Belts), eCitation technology adoption, and Traffic Safety Publicity.
These combined efforts protect motorists across West Virginia's 39,000 miles of public roadways.
Changing Driver Behavior - A Mission of Life and Death: GHSP Director Jack McNeely emphasized that the core mission of traffic enforcement is altering dangerous driver habits through a strategic blend of public engagement, education, and strict enforcement.
"We purposefully refer to traffic incidents as 'crashes' rather than 'accidents,'" said Director McNeely. "Driving impaired, speeding, texting, or refusing to buckle up are all conscious choices."
The life-saving importance of these enforcement efforts was underscored by stark statistics and moving personal tributes:
The Toll on Youth: Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for individuals aged 15 to 24, a reality the GHSP combats through youth education programs like Drive to Save Lives.
Impaired Driving Realities: In 2025 alone, West Virginia law enforcement accounted for 1,873 DUI arrests. Over the last five years, alcohol-related incidents have factored into 23% of the state's total vehicle fatalities.
Grounding Statistics in Human Impact: To remind attendees of the lives behind the data, the luncheon featured powerful testimonials from families and advocacy groups affected by roadway tragedies.
Baylea's Story: Boone County residents Jimmy and Zelda Craig were honored guests at the event, sharing the heartbreaking story of their daughter, Baylea Bower, who was tragically killed by an impaired driver during Easter weekend in 2025. Their advocacy following her passing led to the recent enactment (June 12, 2026) of "Baylea's Law" in West Virginia, which significantly stiffens penalties for DUI offenses causing death.
30 Years of Advocacy: International motivational speaker Cara Filler was featured on the devastating ripple effects of speed. She is sharing with statewide high schools about her 30-year journey of advocacy after her twin sister was killed in a speed-related crash just one day after their 18th birthday.
Distracted Driving Awareness: The event spotlighted The Robin Ames Foundation, a West Virginia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public on distracted driving dangers. The foundation was established in honor of Robin Ames, a 37-year-old father, husband, and U.S. Department of Energy engineer who was struck and killed by a distracted driver while riding his bicycle on February 17, 2020.
Also in attendance was guest speaker Everett Frazier, Commissioner of the West Virginia Division of Motor Vehicles, and the Governor’s Representative for the WV GHSP.
Ultimately, the event underscored that every checkpoint, traffic stop, and seatbelt campaign managed by these honored agencies/officers is driven by a singular goal: making sure West Virginians make it home to their families.
Law Enforcement Traffic Safety Award Recipients:
Largest eCitation Increase Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Hamlin, Grafton, and Madison
County Sheriff’s Offices – Wetzel, Mineral, and Logan
Municipal Police Departments – Bluefield, Dunbar, and Grafton
Top eCitation Usage Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Kanawha Parkways Authority, Raleigh Parkways Authority, and South Charleston Detachment
County Sheriff's Offices – Kanawha and Mineral
Municipal Police Departments – Beckley, Bluefield, Charles Town, and Oak Hill
Agency – Public Service Commission of WV
Top Productive Enforcement Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Kanawha Parkways Authority
Municipal Police Departments – Vienna, Charleston, WVU, Huntington, and St. Albans
Top Productive Enforcement Officers:
Sgt. G. Britton, Vienna PD
Lt. M.A. Cole, Charleston PD
Cpl. J.L. Owens, Charleston, PD
Lt. P.S. Kapeluck, Charleston, PD
Cpl. R.K. Marks, Charleston, PD
Ptlm. C.D. White, St. Albans, PD
Top Target Red Enforcement Agencies:
Municipal Police Departments – Charleston, Beckley, and Huntington
Top Target Red Enforcement Officers:
Cpl. B.A. Foster, Charleston, PD
Ptlm. C.D. White, St. Albans, PD
Capt. J.J. Napier, West Hamlin PD
Officer J. Thomas, WVU, PD
Cpl. R.K. Marks, Charleston, PD
Top Distracted Driving Enforcement Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Raleigh Parkways Authority
Municipal Police Departments – Charleston, Ripley, Martinsburg, and Beckley
Top Distracted Driving Enforcement Officers:
Lt. P.S. Kapeluck, Charleston, PD
Cpl. B.A. Foster, Charleston, PD
Cpl. R.K. Marks, Charleston, PD
Ptlm. B. Smith, Ripley, PD
Capt. W. Ray, Jr., Beckley, PD
1/Lt. J.A. Amos, Raleigh Parkways Authority, WVSP
Top Speed Enforcement Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Charles Town, So. Charleston, Kanawha Parkways Authority, and Beckley
Municipal Police Departments- Charleston, Huntington, Berkeley, Beckley, and West Hamlin
Agency – Public Service Commission of WV
Top Speed Enforcement Officers:
Lt. P.S. Kapeluck, Charleston, PD
Sgt. J. Weber, Huntington PD
Lt. M.A. Cole, Charles Town, WVSP
Cpl. R.K. Marks, Charleston PD
Capt. J.J. Napier, West Hamlin PD
Cpl. A.C. Douglas, Charleston, PD
Capt. W. Ray, Jr., Beckley PD
Retired J.T. Findley, Kanawha Parkways Authority, WVSP
Capt. B. Morrow, Point Pleasant PD
Cpl. R. K. Pierce, Berkeley PD
Ptlm. C.D. White, St. Albans PD
Top Seat Belt Enforcement Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Charles Town
Municipal Police Departments – Charleston, Beckley, and Vienna
Agency - Public Service Commission of WV
Top Seat Belt Enforcement Officers:
Cpl. J.L. Owens, Charleston PD
Sgt. G. Britton, Vienna PD
Sgt. (Lt.) J.L. Wilhite, Beckley PD
TFC C.S. Barrett, Charles Town WVSP
Cpl. R.K. Marks, Charleston PD
Capt. J.J. Napier, West Hamlin PD
Top DUI Enforcement Agencies:
West Virginia State Police – Charles Town
County Sheriff’s Offices – Kanawha, Berkeley, Putnam, Monongalia, and Jefferson
Municipal Police Departments – Huntington, Charleston, Morgantown, and Beckley
Top DUI Enforcement Officers:
Sgt. J. Koher, Huntington PD
Sr. Trooper J. Givens, Charles Town WVSP
Sgt. S. Adams, Kanawha CSO
Ptlm. C. Mayle, Morgantown PD
Dep. B. Hodges, Putnam CSO
Cpl. A. Bentley, Huntington PD
Dep. C. Sigmon, Kanawha CSO
Ptlm. N. Ball, Huntington PD
Dep. L. Leake, Berkeley CSO
PFC J. Ankron, Ravenswood PD
Ptlm. C. Winnell, Beckley PD
Ptlm. A. Combs, Huntington PD
Top Drug Recognition Expert Officer:
Ptlm. Z Freeman, Granville PD (Now Chief at Barrackville PD)
Lt. G. Myers, Glen Dale PD
Sgt. B. Palmeri, Weirton PD
Lt. J. York, Kenova PD
Sgt. J. Koher, Huntington PD
Ptlm. N. Ball, Huntington PD
Ptlm. A. Combs, Huntington PD
Cpl. A. Combs, Huntington PD
Sgt. L. McGlone, Clarksburg PD
Dep. C. Hill, Jackson CSO (Now with WVSP)
Lt. J. Redden, Raleigh CSO
Best Traffic Safety Publicly Agency:
County Sheriff’s Offices – Barboursville and Kanawha
Traffic Safety Partner:
Jody Miller, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Law Enforcement Partner:
Kenova PD
Child Passenger Safety Technician of the Year:
Roberta Meadows, Charleston PD
Traffic Safety Officer of the Year:
Cpl. Ryan Marks, Charleston PD
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Retired Lt. Jay Powers, WVSP PDC
This recognition is incredibly well-deserved. Day in and day out, these officers patrol our roadways, making critical, split-second decisions and enforcing the laws that protect us all. We extend our deepest gratitude to all of this year's honorees for their unwavering dedication to keeping West Virginia motorists moving safely.
The West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program is responsible for developing and implementing statewide measures to reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities on West Virginia roadways through education, enforcement, and community partnerships. For additional information, visit highwaysafety.wv.gov.
