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Detective
Todd Harwood has been named Trooper of the Year for Kentucky State
Police Post 5 in Campbellsburg. His post area includes Henry,
Carroll, Gallatin, Owen, Oldham and Trimble counties.
Harwood, a Louisville native, graduated from the Kentucky Police
Academy in 1996 and his first assignment was in Owen and some
surrounding counties. After living in Owenton for five years,
Harwood bought a house in Perry Park where he says he enjoyed
being near the golf course and the hills.
In May of last year Harwood moved back to Louisville. “I
needed to get back to home and my family,” he said.
Owen County is still close to his heart, though.
Through his volunteer work with Owen County Judo Club and case
assignments here, Harwood maintains a connection with the county.
“I love the community and the people here,” he said.
Assisting Doris Beverly with judo is also giving Harwood the opportunity
to learn judo — an accomplishment that can be added to a
long list. Working cases involving crimes against children, Harwood
says he is in and out of the schools and when he learned Doris
Beverly, judo club sponsor, needed help he jumped on the opportunity.
“I get to interact with children and give back to the community
at the same time,” he said.
Harwood is also an FAA-licensed pilot. “Years ago I took
up skydiving as a hobby. Then I decided I’d like to learn
to fly the machine I was jumping from,” he said.
It is this attitude which has earned Harwood his title of Trooper
of the Year for KSP Post 5. Awarded annually, the honor goes to
a trooper who best embodies the highest standards of professionalism
and dedication to duty. Harwood explained that each of Kentucky’s
16 KSP posts names a trooper of the year, and one trooper is chosen
as Trooper of the Year for all of Kentucky.
“Todd has all the characteristics each of us strives for
— a tremendous work ethic, commitment to the goals and missions
of the post and a real fervor and passion for service. He’s
very accomplished at what he does and a great asset to the state
police,” said Capt. John Thorpe.
In his 10 years with the Kentucky State Police, Capt. Thorpe said
Harwood has worked almost every conceivable situation and he “can
take on any of them and excel. He is a top notch, first-rate criminal
investigator.”
Some of the more prominent cases Harwood has been involved with
include a double homicide in Gallatin County and the February
2005 murder of Owen Countian Patsy Kemper. Both cases ended with
the culprits behind bars. The latter, Harwood said, “fell
together well because of law enforcement and community assistance.”
And Owen County community may once again be his home. Harwood
plans to retire in 10 years on hazardous duty retirement at which
time he “may consider moving back to Owen County. There
are remarkable people here.”
“We are very proud of what (Detective Harwood) does,”
said Capt. Thorpe. “He was recognized for what a lot of
guys do on a daily basis. Todd shines, but we are proud of all
the men and women making this post area well-served.”
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