(INDIANAPOLIS) – On Friday, November 20, 2020, the Indiana State Police held a virtual ceremony honoring 2019 award winners.
The ceremony is typically held in spring each year; however, due to COVID19 restrictions, the event was postponed and replaced with the virtual event. Superintendent Doug Carter presented awards to Indiana State Police Personnel and other law enforcement officers.
2019 Sellersburg Trooper of the Year
Trooper Nathaniel Newton is the recipient of the 2019 Sellersburg Trooper of the Year Award. This award is presented to the Trooper who has achieved outstanding enforcement efforts in the areas of traffic and criminal enforcement, case and crash investigations, public information programs, and community service, and who has exemplified the professionalism and integrity expected of an Indiana State Trooper.
Trooper Newton was appointed as a Trooper in 2016 and primarily patrols in Harrison County. His supervisor, Sergeant Matt Marshall, nominated Trooper Newton.
2019 Life Award – DUI
The Life Award is awarded to the top 5 troopers in Indiana in terms of the highest number of DUI arrests. The Sellersburg Post is honored to have two of the state’s top 5.
Trooper Justin Mears removed 121 impaired drivers off Indiana highways last year, making him the state’s 2nd highest trooper for DUI arrest. Trooper Steven Peyton was close behind with 110 DUI arrests. Trooper Peyton was the third highest in the state.
Please join us in congratulating these officers for their outstanding work and dedication to the citizens of Indiana.
In 2019, Trooper Newton incarcerated 144 criminal defendants with a total of 332 criminal arrests. One hundred three of those charges were felonies. Most of the incidents stemmed from efforts he made in battling the current opioid crisis.
Trooper Newton made 66 Driving Under the Influence (DUI) arrests in 2019, nine of which were felony charges.
Newton also produced 1,361 tickets and warnings during the calendar year.
