Ross named Ohio trooper of year

Trooper at Hamilton post ‘extremely dedicated and motivated toward apprehending impaired drivers.’

HAMILTON —

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— before the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, Ross’ dedication to his job, his number of arrests and his overall professionalism still earned him the honor of Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Trooper of the Year.

“He’s extremely dedicated and motivated toward apprehending impaired drivers, whether they’re alcohol- or drug-impaired,” said his post commander, Lt. Clint Arnold.

“I usually bring in right around 150, but last year, it was 115, with everything going on,” Ross said. That number still was enough to lead the district. “I grew up in an environment that I saw what drugs and alcohol can do to a person,” Ross said. “I think that I understand the effect that can have long-term and shortterm on families and friends, and just the consequences of driving,

Tyler S. Ross so I think that gives me an eagerness and a fire to look for that.”

“And then, just training and experience, doing something over and over again, you just get good at it, and have confidence in it,” Ross said. “That’s just something I take pride in.”

The Hamilton post has had two state troopers of the year in the past three years. The other, two years ago, was Trooper James Hutchinson.

“So we are two-for-three, which is pretty-much unheard of,” Arnold said.

Ross also led a coat drive for school-age children, getting dozens of new coats donated by family, friends and acquaintances.

Ross, 29, grew up in Belbrook, which is east of Kettering, and graduated from Belbrook High School. He received an associate of arts degree in psychology from Sinclair Community College in 2014 and joined the patrol in 2016. He credited Arnold, the post’s sergeants and his wife, Elise, for supporting his work.

His brother Michael Ross is a sergeant in the patrol’s Wilmington

Trooper