The Leitchfield Police Department (LPD) has announced its 2020 Officer of the Year is Chance Anthony.
Anthony, 27, was chosen by his fellow officers as the agency’s top cop in his first full year on the job, as Anthony joined LPD in July 2019.
“I just want to say thank you to LPD for the support and giving me the opportunity to pursue a career I have longed to be a part of,” Anthony said about receiving the honor. “Thank you to my family, who have stood beside me as I pursued this career.”
Anthony began his law enforcement career at age 22 as a Kentucky State Police dispatcher. He then migrated back to Breckinridge County, where he is from, to work as a dispatcher before being hired as a court security officer in Grayson County.
“I grew up in law enforcement watching my dad (Bruce Anthony), who has been with the Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office over 20 years,” Anthony said. “It’s just become a family tradition: my brother is an officer, (and) I have a brother-in-law who is an officer, along with several friends as well. I have always been drawn to the idea of each day being something new and having the opportunity to help others.”
It’s this attitude, along with Anthony’s work ethic, that has so impressed his co-workers, including LPD Assistant Chief Brandon Cook.
“It has been an honor for me to get to know this young man and work with him,” Cook recently said. “This young man proves that in life you do not have to live with excuses for not achieving your goals. You only need determination, hard work, and a never give up mentality. Chance has one of the best attitudes of anyone that I have ever been around and a great work ethic.”
Cook, not finished in his praise of Anthony, continued by offering a personal message to the young officer, “He genuinely is one of the GOOD GUYS. I could go on, but I will stop at this: Chance Anthony, you are the type of person that would make any parent, supervisor, co-worker, family member, or friend proud to call you one of their own.”
Anthony, in accepting the award, noted that although he is from Breckinridge County, the people of Grayson County have welcomed him into the community, and displayed a somewhat surprising attitude toward law enforcement officers, when considering the climate we currently reside in.
“As far as the community, I may be from across the water in Breckinridge County, but the citizens have welcomed me with open arms and that is greatly appreciated. (In) this day and age, law enforcement is often spotlighted for the negative, but here the citizens still respect and appreciate law enforcement. That means so much, allowing officers from LPD and surrounding agencies to work to meet their needs; something I hope to be able to continue to do for a long time.”
While working in law enforcement offers officers unique challenges on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, Anthony cherishes his time in uniform because his attitude and outlook tilts toward helping others and serving his community, the prototype of an officer that police departments around the country strive to hire.
Awards, while appreciated, are not something Anthony endeavors to achieve. For him, the son of a long-time law enforcement officer, it’s about his relationship with co-workers and the citizens he serves.
“I didn’t expect any award, it’s not about that at all to me,” Anthony said. “It’s about enjoying working with the guys I work with, and being able to serve the community and having fun while we do it.”
Anthony, who turns 28 on Monday, married his high school sweetheart, Jaclan, and together they have two children, Ophelia and Raylan.
(Photo l-r: LPD Chief David Riley, Officer Chance Anthony, Asst. Chief Brandon Cook)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
