The Daviess County Sheriff’s Office celebrated its annual awards banquet the week, recognizing staff for their dedication and achievements in 2024. More than 150 awards were presented to 76 employees during the ceremony, with several receiving multiple honors.
“The men and women of the Sheriff’s Office have just concluded a monumental year, and I could not be prouder of everything they have accomplished,” Sheriff Brad Youngman said. “The Command Staff and I were able to show our appreciation for the amazing job our deputies and staff do by recognizing many of their achievements.”
Recognized accomplishments included an October investigation into human trafficking, complex drug investigations, and court security operations for high-profile trials.
The evening’s highest honor, the Sheriff’s Excellence Award, was presented to four individuals: Deputy Tommy Ferry, Deputy Chris Leach, Captain Alex Coomes, and Captain Jared Ramsey “for their multiple outstanding accomplishments, teamwork, initiative, and above-average efforts in which the routinely went above and beyond the expectations.”
Other awards included:
Advanced Certification
- Landen Ashby (DCHS Intern)
- Deputy Trent Smith
- Deputy Logan Bacon (x2)
- Pheonix Barnett (OIA Intern)
- Deputy Chris Lee
- Deputy Chris Vessels
- Deputy Cameron Edwards
- Deputy Shawn Longest (x5)
- Deputy Logan Burnett
- Detective Sergeant Kelsey Skaggs
- Corporal Robert Bracelin
- Sergeant Clay Booth
- Captain Jared Ramsey
Unit Commendation
- Deputy Cameron Edwards (x3)
- Deputy Trent Smith (x2)
- Deputy Kolbe Mattingly (x4)
- Captain Jeff Payne (x4)
- Detective Sergeant Chris Hayes (x5)
- Detective Steve Morgan (x3)
- Detective Sergeant Kelsey Skaggs (x3)
- Deputy Chris Lee (x2)
- Deputy Chris Leach (x2)
- Sergeant Tyler Free
- Corporal Robert Bracelin
- Deputy Preston Schilke
- Detective Jacob Stauffer (x4)
- Deputy Logan Burnett (x2)
- Deputy Eric Wimsatt (x2)
- Dr. Cheryl Purdy
- Sergeant Matt Alexander (x2)
- Detective Casey Foster (x3)
- Detective Sergeant Fred Coomes (x2)
- Detective Josh White (x2)
- Detective Matt Fitzgerald (x2)
- Corporal Nick Hines (x4)
- Corporal Russ Day
- Deputy Ryan Hatfield (x2)
- Deputy Nathan Huff (x3)
- Deputy Logan Bacon (x4)
- Captain Jared Ramsey
- Captain Duane Harper
- Corporal Jacob Gould
- Sergeant Jake Klotzback
- Deputy Jalen Moorman
- Lieutenant Phil Ashby
- CSO Brian Smith
- CSO Donna Mattingly
- CSO Billy Davis
- CSO Tommy Helm
- CSO Charley McCarty
- CSO Jeff Rhinerson
- CSO Mike Pearre Sr.
- CSO David Coleman
- CSO Amanda Pate
- CSO Denny Campbell
- CSO Kaylee Jackowski
- CSO Randy Lowe
- CSO Houston Coons
- CSO David Bowman
- CSO Jolene Morgan
- CSO Robert Duvall
- CSO Eve Jackson
- CSO Bill Mattingly
- CSO Ed Hoskins
- CSO Neal Blue
- CSO Kristel Wright
- CSO Dale Faith
- CSO Gary Jackson
- CSO Ruth Wilhite
- CSO Billy Marcum
Outstanding Commendation
- Deputy Clerk Althe Hatfield
- Deputy Clerk Kim Hays
- Deputy Clerk Alicia Evans
- Deputy Clerk Jess Sanner
- Deputy Clerk Nicole Besherse
- Executive Assistant Tonya Payne
- Corporal Nick Hines
- Deputy Matt Selby
- Sergeant Matt Alexander
- Corporal Jacob Gould
- Deputy Ryan Hatfield
- Deputy Chris Leach
- Deputy Tommy Ferry
- Deputy Jalen Moorman
- Deputy Preston Schilke
- Corporal Russ Day
- Detective Steve Morgan
- Special Deputy Allen Youngman
- Special Deputy Tim Allen
- Special Deputy Randall Foster
- Special Deputy Chris Allen
- Special Deputy Adam Johnston
- Deputy Frank Howard
Lifesaving Award
- Corporal Jacob Gould (x2)
- Sergeant Matt Alexander
Military Service Award
- Deputy Eric Wimsatt (US Army)
- Deputy Clerk Nicole Besherse (US Army)
- CSO Billy Marcum (US Navy)
- Deputy Chris Vessels (US Army)
Leadership Award
- Detective Sergeant Fred Coomes
- Detective Sergeant Kelsey Skaggs
- Deputy Trent Smith
- Special Deputy Allen Youngman
- Sergeant Jake Klotzback
Expert Marksman Pin
- Colonel Brad Youngman
- Major Nick Roby
- Captain Jared Ramsey
- Captain Jeff Payne
- Captain Duane Harper
- Detective Josh White
- Special Deputy Allen Youngman
- Captain Alex Coomes
- Detective Sergeant Fred Coomes
- Sergeant Clay Booth
- Detective Sergeant Chris Hayes
- Sergeant Tyler Free
- Sergeant Jake Klotzback
- Corporal Nick Hines
- Deputy Chris Leach
- Deputy Nathan Huff
- Deputy Tommy Ferry
- Detective Steve Morgan
- Deputy Matt Selby
- Deputy Ryan Hatfield
- Deputy Kolbe Mattingly
- Detective Casey Foster
- Deputy Eric Wimsatt
- Detective Matt Fitzgerald
- Deputy Logan Burnett
- Detective Jacob Stauffer
- Deputy Mike Pearre Jr.
- Deputy Cameron Edwards
Sheriff’s 10 Award
- Captain Jared Ramsey
- Sergeant Detective Chris Hayes
- Detective Josh White
- Major Nick Roby
- Sergeant Jake Klotzback
- Captain Jeff Payne
- Detective Sergeant Fred Coomes
- Sergeant Clay Booth
- Detective Matt Fitzgerald
- Deputy Mike Pearre Jr.
Sheriff Youngman also expressed gratitude to Daviess County Fiscal Court, crediting their support for DCSO’s success.
The event was held Tuesday at the Major General D. Allen Youngman National Guard Readiness Center in Owensboro and was sponsored by Daniel Dick State Farm. Jaclyn Graves Cecil emceed the occasion. To ensure all deputies could participate, Kentucky State Police Post 16 handled patrols and responded to calls throughout the evening.
