Southington Post names trooper and dispatcher of the year

Staff report

SOUTHINGTON

The Southington Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol has named trooper of the year and dispatcher of the year for 2016.

In both cases, the awards are given in recognition of outstanding service, the highway patrol said.

Fellow officers and dispatchers chose both award winners based on leadership abilities, professional ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and the public.

Matthew R. Abbey has been selected trooper of the year for the Southington post and Warren district, which covers seven counties in Northeast Ohio.

Trooper Abbey, 32, is now in contention for the state trooper of the year, to be announced later.

He joined the patrol in 2006 and has served at the Southington, Ravenna and Bowling Green posts. He originally is from Howland Township and is a graduate of Howland Township High School.

He graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree. He and his wife, Kaylynn, live in Cortland.

Kawecki has been selected dispatcher of the year at the Southington Post. The Kawecki, 28, joined the Highway Patrol in 2012 and has served at the Southington Post.

She originally is from Bazetta Township and is a graduate of LaBrae High School. She graduated from Kent State University with a bachelor’s degree and lives in Cortland.