April 2002 Media Releases

• April 30, 2002 — Patrol to begin enforcement effort: What's Holding You Back?
• April 26, 2002 — Patrol commissions 48 troopers today
• April 25, 2002 — Patrol announces 138th Academy Class graduation tomorrow
• April 22, 2002 — Patrol’s Lt. Dodd graduates from FBI National Academy
• April 19, 2002 — Accreditation assessment team invites public comment
• April 18, 2002 — Patrol to burn weapons, drugs
• April 12, 2002 — Patrol seizes $500,000 worth of marijuana in Preble County
• April 5, 2002 — Lt. Col. McClellan to serve as Patrol assistant superintendent
• April 5, 2002 — Capt. Brooks promoted to major
• April 2, 2002 — Highway Patrol announces church bus inspection dates
• April 1, 2002 — Patrol seizes more than $600,000 worth of marijuana in Montgomery County

April 30, 2002 — Patrol to begin enforcement effort: What’s Holding You Back?

Columbus – In an effort to save lives and reduce injuries, Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers have announced they will begin a zero tolerance safety belt enforcement effort Thursday as part of the statewide What’s Holding You Back? campaign. Any driver who is stopped by the Patrol during an enforcement contact and is not wearing a safety belt will be given a citation.

A statewide survey last year revealed that less than 67 percent of Ohio motorists are buckling up. National safety belt usage was 71 percent in 2000, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ohio has a secondary safety belt enforcement law, allowing fines for not wearing a safety belt only after the driver has been stopped for another violation.

"There is simply no disputing that safety belts save lives and reduce injury," Col. Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent said. "Buckle up! Our most precious resource, life, is at stake."

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wearing your safety belt doubles your chances of surviving a crash without serious injury. Children who are in proper car safety seats survive 90 percent of crashes.

"Society as a whole is affected by safety belt usage," Col. Morckel said. "Insurance and health care costs are significantly higher for crash victims who choose not to wear a safety belt."

If you’re not wearing your safety belt – What’s holding you back?

April 26, 2002 — Patrol commissions 48 troopers today

The Patrol’s 138th Academy Class graduated today after 28 weeks of rigorous law enforcement training. Robert M. Burnham, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, Patrol superintendent; and Major Peyton Watts, commander of the Office of Training, all addressed the graduates and presented their commissions and certificates of training.

Trooper Shawn T. Bailey of Westerville was selected class speaker and thanked the Academy staff, family, and friends for their support during the training period.

Five of the graduates received special honors for top performance in various fields of study at the Patrol Academy. The honorees are:

• Overall performance - Tpr. Caleb D. Courson of Marietta
• Top performance in academics - Tpr. Michael K. Cannon of Wooster
• Superior physical training achievement - Tpr. Shawn T. Bailey of Westerville
• Firearms performance - Tpr. Jacob D. Pyles of Cedarville
• Top driving – Tpr. Robert M. Hayslip of West Union, and Tpr. Travis N. Tichnell of Masontown, W. Va.

Each of the newly-commissioned troopers will report to their posts on Monday, April 29. The trooper’s first 60 working days will be a field training period under the guidance of a veteran officer. The new troopers are assigned to 21 of the Patrol’s 55 posts, as well as the Patrol’s Statehouse Security Unit as part of the Division’s Homeland Security efforts.

April 25, 2002 — Patrol announces 138th Academy Class graduation tomorrow

The 48 members of the Patrol’s 138^th Academy Class will graduate and be sworn in as Ohio’s newest state troopers. As part of the Patrol’s Homeland Security efforts, some of these new troopers will be assigned to the Statehouse.

April 22, 2002 — Patrol’s Lt. Dodd graduates from FBI National Academy

The National Academy session consisted of officers from 49 states, the District of Columbia, 30 countries, five military organizations, and one federal civilian organization. FBI Academy instructional staff, special agents, and other staff members provided training for the program.

Lt. Dodd joined the Patrol in November 1981 as a cadet dispatcher assigned to Portsmouth. He transferred to Gallipolis in May 1982, and then entered training as a member of the 112^th Academy Class in November. In March 1983, Lt. Dodd earned his commission and returned to Portsmouth for his first assignment.

Promoted to sergeant in October 1989, Lt. Dodd transferred to New Philadelphia as assistant post commander. At that rank, he later served at Gallipolis, and Jackson District Headquarters, before transferring to into the Office of Licensing and Commercial Standards at the Patrol’s General Headquarters in Columbus in November 1998. He was promoted to lieutenant in July 2000.

A native of Gallipolis, Lt. Dodd graduated from St. Alban’s High School (W. Va.) in 1979. He currently resides in Circleville with his wife Melva. They have four children.

April 19, 2002 — Accreditation assessment team invites public comment

COLUMBUS – A team of assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. will be in Ohio April 20-25 to examine all aspects of the Ohio State Highway Patrol policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services.

Verification by the assessors that the Ohio State Highway Patrol meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to maintain accreditation, which is a nationwide recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.

As part of the on-site assessment the public and agency employees are invited to offer comments on the Patrol’s services and performance. Comments to the assessment team can be made by calling, toll-free, 1-866-713-OSHP on Monday, April 22, between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol was originally accredited in 1989, and was re-accredited in 1994 and 1999. Maintaining accreditation status is an on-going process and requires constant monitoring and updating of policies and procedures to assure the Ohio State Highway Patrol meets the Commission’s standards.

April 18, 2002 — Patrol to burn weapons, drugs

The Ohio State Highway Patrol has already seized over 3,200 pounds of marijuana this year, which is more than any other complete year in the Division’s 68-year history. The Patrol will be burning over 5,000 pounds of seized drugs, and over 500 pounds of seized weapons, from traffic enforcement contacts initiated by state troopers. The drugs and weapons are from cases that have been adjudicated through the court system.

April 12, 2002 — Patrol seizes $500,000 worth of marijuana in Preble County

EATON – Two Washington men will be arraigned today in the Preble County Court on felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized $500,000 of marijuana Thursday during a traffic stop in Preble County. Christopher V. Carey, 36, of Renton, and Dominic R. Gigger, 19, of Seattle, were each charged with second-degree felony possession of marijuana.

At 11:15 a.m. yesterday, troopers stopped a rented 2002 Oldsmobile Alero, driven by Carey, on eastbound Interstate 70 near milepost 16 for marked lanes and following too closely violations. A Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle and a search of the trunk revealed a duffel bag containing two gift-wrapped boxes. The boxes contained shrink-wrapped packages of marijuana weighing a total of five kilograms. The street value of the marijuana is approximately $500,000. The marijuana is known as B.C. Bud and is grown in British Columbia. It has a much higher THC level, and is sold on the street for the same price as cocaine.

If convicted, each suspect could face up to eight years in prison, and up to a $15,000 fine. Both suspects were incarcerated in the Preble County Jail.

April 5, 2002 — Lt. Col. McClellan to serve as Patrol assistant superintendent

Columbus – Major Paul D. McClellan, commander of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Office of Licensing and Commercial Standards, was promoted today to the rank of lieutenant colonel by Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, superintendent. Lt. Colonel McClellan will serve as assistant superintendent of operations. He replaces Lt. Colonel Michael R. Everhart, who retired today after more than 31 years of service.

Lt. Colonel McClellan joined the Patrol in October 1974 as a member of the 99th Academy Class. He received his commission the following February and was assigned to the Findlay Post, where he earned the Patrol’s ACE Award for excellence in auto larceny enforcement in 1975 and 1977. He was named Post and District Trooper of the Year in 1979 and 1981 and was selected State Trooper of the Year in 1981. Promoted to sergeant in January 1982, Lt. Colonel McClellan transferred to the Batavia Post.

In 1985, Lt. Colonel McClellan was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to the Springfield Post where he served as post commander until his transfer to the Patrol’s General Headquarters in July 1993. He was promoted to staff lieutenant in March 1994, to captain in January 1997, and to major in December 1998. He earned Patrol Certificates of Recognition in 1975, 1977, and 1988.

A Columbus (Clintonville) native, Lt. Colonel McClellan graduated from Whetsone High School in 1968. He earned an associate’s degree in business administration from Columbus Technical Institute in 1970. In 1973, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Franklin University. He completed advanced police management training at the FBI Academy in Virginia in 1988.

He resides in Columbus with his wife, Margie. Their daughter, Amy, is an adult.

April 5, 2002 — Capt. Brooks promoted to major

Columbus – Captain Robert E. Brooks, of the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s General Headquarters, was promoted to the rank of major by Colonel Kenneth L. Morckel, superintendent. Major Brooks will serve as commander of the Office of Licensing and Commercial Standards.

Major Brooks joined the Patrol in October 1976 as a member of the 100th Academy Class. He received his commission the following February and was assigned to the Portsmouth Post where he was named Post Trooper of the Year in 1980 and both Post and District Trooper of the Year in 1982.

In January 1984, Major Brooks was promoted to sergeant to serve as assistant post commander of the Akron Post. He received his promotion to lieutenant in November 1987 and served as post commander at Massillon, where he earned the Ohio Department of Highway Safety Award in 1989.

In March 1990, he was promoted to staff lieutenant and transferred to the Patrol’s General Headquarters in Columbus. He received his promotion to captain in December 1998.

A Barberton native, Major Brooks graduated from Barberton High School in 1972. He earned an associate’s degree in police science from the University of Akron in 1975.

He currently resides in Hilliard with his wife, Mildred. They have two daughters, Laura and Emily.

April 2, 2002 — Highway Patrol announces church bus inspection dates

COLUMBUS – The annual church bus inspections for Franklin County and the surrounding area will be conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol April 8-12 at the District Headquarters garage at 2855 West Dublin-Granville Road, which is just west of Beightler Armory on State Route 161. Inspections will be conducted from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day.

Prior to the issuance of registration plates, troopers inspect church buses annually for safety. Buses with seating capacity of 16 or more passengers must be inspected.

Persons wishing to schedule buses for inspection should call the Highway Patrol’s Columbus Communications Center at (614) 466-2660 for an appointment.

April 1, 2002 —  Patrol seizes more than $600,000 worth of marijuana in Montgomery County

Dayton – Two men will be arraigned today in the Montgomery County Court on felony drug charges after Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers seized a total of 278 pounds of marijuana Saturday during two separate traffic stops in Montgomery County. Daniel W. Kuralt, 32, of Springfield, Mass. and Albert J. Diaz, 31, of Brownsville, TX, were each charged with second-degree felony possession of marijuana.

Troopers stopped a 1998 Chevrolet Silverado Pickup driven by Kuralt on Saturday at 8:44 a.m., on Interstate 70 eastbound near milepost 31, for a speed violation. A Patrol K-9 alerted to the vehicle and a search revealed 234 pounds of marijuana. The marijuana was bundled in plastic wrap and packed in four U-Haul boxes in the bed of the pick-up. The street value of the drugs is approximately $531,180.

Diaz was a passenger in a 2000 Freightliner Tractor-Trailer stopped by troopers at 1:34 p.m. on Saturday for a marked lane violation on Interstate 70 eastbound near milepost 21. A canine alerted to the vehicle, and a search revealed 44 pounds of marijuana. The drugs were bundled with plastic wrap coated with axle grease inside a duffel bag concealed between boxes of lettuce. The drugs have an approximate street value of $99,880.

If convicted, Kuralt and Diaz could each face up to eight years in prison, and up to a $15,000 fine. Both suspects were incarcerated in the Montgomery County Jail.

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