The Leitchfield Police Department announced its 2021 Officer of the Year.
In a vote by his peers, Officer DJ Newton was named the LPD Officer of the Year. Newton was also named Deputy of the Year in 2018 while employed by the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.
“First, I appreciate the consideration and I am honored to be selected as the 2021 Leitchfield Police Department Officer of the Year,” Newton said. “Policing is more than a one-man game; I owe thanks to our dispatchers, fellow first responders and my family and friends who support my career. It is easy to come to work every day when you love what you do.”
Newton, who was first hired as a police officer in December 2016, won the Governor’s Impaired Driving Enforcement Award in both 2020 and 2021.
While the 29-year-old Newton has been involved in many major arrests over the last year, in September he sniffed out an early morning house fire while patrolling West Main Street. He followed the odor to South English Street and then to West Market Street where he observed smoke coming from the home at 208 West Market.
Newton, who said the home “was obviously on fire,” and LPD Sgt. Keith Harrel, who quickly arrived on scene, beat on the front door of the house before kicking the door open as the two officers attempted to save the occupants. Unable to make their way very far into the home because of incredibly dense smoke, the two officers then tried to enter through the rear of the residence, but were likewise unable to make entry.
With the help of Grayson Count Central Dispatch, it was soon determined that no one was in the structure.
Newton’s discovering the fire, though, likely saved the adjacent homes in the densely residential area from suffering serious fire damage. Newton and Harrell also displayed great bravery in trying to rescue anyone who may have been in the residence.
Newton, who is originally from Bullitt County, has come to appreciate Leitchfield and the support its citizens offer law enforcement officers.
“Law enforcement as a whole in Grayson County is blessed to have the overwhelming community support that is shown to us on a daily basis – whether we are in uniform or not,” he said.
Newton is 2010 graduate of North Bullitt High School. He graduated from the University of Kentucky in 2014 with a degree in Forestry.
(Photo l-r: LPD Sgt. Keith Harrell, Officer of the Year DJ Newton, Leitchfield Police Chief David Riley)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
