Cpl. Justin Noel, Wyatt Shalk, Jon Hodgson, Sheriff David Groves, Shawn Steward with AAA of Kansas, Dan Kisler with KDOT and Destiny Lima

AAA Presents Sheriff's Office with Platinum Award

The Cherokee County Sheriff's Office received a AAA of Kansas Platinum Level Award during Monday mornings County Commission meeting.

Shawn Steward, with AAA of Kansas, presented the award to Sheriff David Groves and noted the Platinum Award is the highest-level award issued by AAA.

During the presentation, Mr. Steward told commissioners the Community Traffic Safety Award Program has existed for the past nine years and the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office is the only Sheriff's Office in the State of Kansas to receive it all nine years.

In addition, Mr. Steward thanked the Board of Commissioners for supporting the Sheriffs' Office efforts to keep our motorists, roadways and community safe.

"I appreciate the opportunity to accept this award on behalf of the great job our deputies do on a regular basis in working towards keeping those on our roadways safe," stated Sheriff Groves.

"Traffic safety is really a group effort.  Whether it's encouraging motorists to buckle up, providing education to reduce distracted driving or removing impaired drivers from our roadways, it takes a commitment from law enforcement along with support from the board of commissioners and our community members, including our area high school students who are active in our Seatbelts Are For Everyone Program, to work together, because keeping ourselves, friends, family and community members safe and alive while on the roadways is every drivers responsibility," continued Sheriff Groves.

Regarding seatbelt usage, Mr. Steward credited the Sheriff's Office and the community's commitment towards traffic safety, with a local increase in seatbelt usage rate from 80% to 87% over a five-year period.

Joining Sheriff Groves for the presentation was Sheriff's Corporal Justin Noel, who serves as a School Resource Officer for Columbus USD 493 School District, and is active with multiple traffic safety programs, including SAFE along with teaching students the dangers of texting and driving and driving while impaired.  Three members of the Columbus Higschool SAFE Team, Destiny Lima, Jon Hodgson and Wyatt Shalk also attended the award presentation.