Sgt. Lee Blanton on Friday was named Deputy of the Year by the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office. DCSO also recognized other employees for their continued exceptional service for the year 2020, and the agency also gave out a pair of Civilian Awards.
Normally the office would recognize employees at a Christmas awards dinner; however, due to COVID-19, they were forced to cancel the annual event.
Blanton recognized as Deputy of the Year for DCSO
Blanton, an 11-year veteran with law enforcement and a six-year veteran of DCSO, offered humble words of appreciation on Friday when asked how it felt to be recognized for such a significant accomplishment.
“It’s kind of hard for me to brag [on myself], but I’m very gracious they decided to give me the award,” Blanton said. “I don’t feel deserving of it.”
DCSO officials, however, had plenty to say about Blanton. According to a Facebook post the agency published Friday afternoon, Blanton’s “dedication and leadership was quickly recognized, which enabled his promotion to Shift Corporal in August of 2017.”
Blanton, who started with DCSO in June 2014 after transferring from the Owensboro Police Department, was again promoted to Sergeant after working day and evening shifts as a shift corporal for three years straight.
“Sgt. Blanton has worked on all three shifts of patrol with the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office,” DCSO wrote. “He has served as one our police training officers since January 2016 and as the supervisor of our WKU-O internship program.”
Blanton said the key to his success comes in showing up to work every day and doing his job to the best of his ability.
“Since I started, I try to pretty much do the best I possibly can. Even if I’m having a bad day, I put it to the side,” he said. “I feel like I’m where I need to be. To stay in this job for more than a few years, you have to be called to do it.”
DCSO shared a number of Blanton’s recognitions and awards he’d earned over his time in law enforcement, including three Outstanding Commendations, three Life Saving Awards, and six Unit Commendations.
Blanton also earned a Medal of Valor, Excellent Arrest and Distinguished Service Award on different occasions.
For Blanton, his favorite part of the job includes the day-to-day challenges and excitement that comes with responding to the unknown. As a patrol deputy, it’s usually a rough day for most people he assists. That part of the job can be difficult, he said.
However, there are also the moments when someone approaches him — maybe at a gas station or on the street — thanking him for his service in their time of need. Those are the moments, Blanton said, that fulfill and inspire him.
“You’ll run into people and they’ll call you by name,” he said. “There are times you genuinely get to help others.”
DCSO said they were fortunate to have a Sergeant of Blanton’s caliber working for them on a daily basis.
“Day in and day out, Lee consistently performs his duties in a professional manner, with genuine empathy toward the citizens of Daviess County,” DCSO wrote. “This year, as in years past, we have always been able to rely on him to serve them honorably and enthusiastically.”
Employee awards:
Sergeant Lee Blanton
Deputy of the Year
Outstanding Commendation
Deputy Hunter Harris
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (4)
Deputy Matt Alexander
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Distinguished Service
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (3)
Deputy Zach Morris
Outstanding Commendation (5)
Education Award
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (8)
Distinguished Service (2)
Corporal Jake Klotzback
Outstanding Commendation (3)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (5)
Distinguished Service
Deputy David Morris
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (5)
Distinguished Service
Deputy Jacob Gould
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (2)
Detective Jared Ramsey
Outstanding Commendation
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation
Distinguished Service
Lieutenant Chester Freels
Distinguished Service (2)
Deputy Russ Day
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (2)
Deputy Alex Coomes
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Distinguished Service
Deputy Kelsey Skaggs
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Deputy Josh White
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (2)
Sergeant Duane Harper
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (2)
Outstanding Commendation
Distinguished Service
Deputy Clay Booth
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (2)
Outstanding Commendation (2)
Distinguished Service
Deputy Chris Hayes
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (5)
Outstanding Commendation
Sergeant Tyler Free
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation (4)
Distinguished Service
Detective Casey Foster
Outstanding Commendation
Corporal Phil Ashby
Sheriff’s Unit Commendation
Distinguished Service
Court Security Officer Bill Mattingly
Outstanding Commendation
Court Security Officer Matthew Brenner
Outstanding Commendation
Deputy Kelly Payne
Outstanding Commendation
Chief Deputy Barry Smith
Distinguished Service
Lieutenant Scott Wedding
Distinguished Service
Lieutenant Nick Roby
Distinguished Service
Lieutenant Jerry Spurrier
Distinguished Service
Detective Jared Spurrier
Distinguished Service
Deputy Jared Kessinger
Distinguished Service
Detective Brad Youngman
Distinguished Service
Civilian Awards
Clarke Pelphrey
Brandy Pelphrey
Recognized for their life-saving actions when they observed an individual making an attempt to commit suicide.
Antoine L. Smith- Rouse
Recognized for his calming influence and demeanor during the civil protest with opposing factions at the confederate statue this summer.
