Clarksburg Police Officer Among Those Recognized by Governor’s Highway Safety Program

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.