Corporal Russ Day has been named 2022 Deputy of the Year by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office. DCSO also presented Corporal Alex Coomes with a Medal of Valor, and recognized other employees with several awards for their service.
Day recognized as Deputy of the Year
Day, a 19-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, is married to Jenny Day and is a proud father and grandfather.
Day served the first 5 years of his law enforcement career with the Morganfield and Sturgis police departments. He began his career with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office in July 1998.
Day worked many years as a Patrol Deputy, working all three patrol shifts. However, he found his true “niche” in law enforcement in 2004 when he became a certified Drug K-9 handler. At the time, Day was working as a School Resource Officer (SRO) at Daviess County High School.
When Day decided to go back to patrol, he continued as the Sheriff’s Office K-9 Deputy. His canine partners over the years include Smokey, Abby, Jordan, and Astor.
In 2021, Day was promoted to Corporal on second shift, where he also has continued to be the DCSO K-9 Deputy.
Sheriff Barry Smith said, “I have always appreciated the fact that Russ and his K-9 partners have always been willing to come out for the community, no matter the situation and many times without notice. If there is an event in Daviess County which requests to see our K-9 in action, you can bet Corporal Day is going to make this happen. As we all know people may forget what you say to them, but people rarely forget how you made them feel. Russ and his partners have made many folks in our community feel excited, happy, and left them with a smile on their face.”
Coomes receives Medal of Valor
On September 23, Coomes responded to a burglary in progress. Dispatch advised a male suspect was breaking into several homes, damaging property, assaulting residents, and threatening others with a hammer. Coomes arrived and observed multiple individuals running from the residence, and upon further investigation determined the subject had entered through a broken glass door to the home.
Coomes entered the residence and located the male suspect upstairs inside the home. According to DCSO, the male suspect was armed with a weapon and charged at Coomes, who discharged his weapon three times, striking the suspect. Coomes immediately began to render aid until EMS arrived and could transport the subject to the hospital.
The suspect recovered and was charged with multiple felony crimes.
“The bravery exemplified by Cpl. Coomes, in an extremely stressful situation and the cognizant awareness to administer life-saving measures is a true testament to Cpl. Coomes professionalism and dedication to this call of service,” Smith said.
Employee awards
(Some employees received the same award multiple times.)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Cpl. Russ Day, Deputy Clay Booth, Deputy Kolbe Mattingly
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Sgt. Jake Klotzback, Deputy Kolbe Mattingly, Deputy Nick Hines
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Deputy Josh White and Deputy Kolbe Mattingly
Outstanding Commendation Award
Deputy Logan Burnett
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Lt. Chester Freels, Sgt. Phil Ashby, Pat Davis, Randy Lowe, Ed Hoskins, Bobby Stinnett, Archie Powers, Bob Duvall
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Cpl. Russ Day and Cpl. Detective Kelsey Skaggs
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Cpl. Chris Hayes, Deputy Kolbe Mattingly, Detective Matt Alexander
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Cpl. Russ Day, Deputy Logan Burnett and Deputy Kolbe Mattingly
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Lt. Chester Freels, Sgt. Phil Ashby, Cpl. Alex Coomes, Deputy Bobby Stinnett
Lifesaving Award
Deputy Trent Smith
Outstanding Commendation
Court Security Officer Destiny Istre
Life Saving Award
Deputy Cameron Edwards
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Sgt. Tyler Free, Deputy Cameron Edwards, Deputy Steve Morgan
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation Award
Cpl. Detective Kelsey Skaggs, Cpl. Russ Day
Outstanding Commendation Award
Deputy Ryan Hatfield
HIDTA Outstanding Commendation
Casey Foster
PTO Award
Matt Alexander
Distinguished Service
Deputy Chris Lee, Chris Leach, Deputy Preston Schilke, Deputy Jacob Gould, Deputy Nathan Huff, Robert Bracelin
Advanced Certification
Deputy Jacob Gould
