Officer of the Year 2001
Chief William Ping
Sparta Kentucky Police On May 3, 2000, the City of Sparta, Kentucky Police Department was requested to assist the Kentucky Motor Vehicle Enforcement Agency and the Kentucky State Police in a high speed pursuit on Interstate I-71 North. Chief William Ping was provided information that the subject’s vehicle had, and was continuing to, run other motor vehicles off the roadway at speeds of 110 miles an hour or more. In an attempt to keep marked police cars from getting in front of the defendant’s vehicle, the subject’s vehicle would on purpose and, with total disregard for life or property, ram the side of pursuing police cars while maintaining excessively high rates of speed. Chief Ping, observing this action and without regard for his own life and safety, placed himself in harm’s way and put a stop to the defendant’s reckless and very dangerous driving actions. Chief Ping conducted a “textbook” rolling road block take of the motor vehicle by running the defendant’s vehicle into an embankment on the east side of the interstate. In this instance, Chief Ping was able to effect an end to the chase without any death or injuries. The destruction could have indeed been catastrophic. The defendant had just been released from the state penitentiary after serving 16 years for robbery and burglary and was intoxicated and had marijuana in the vehicle at the time of the arrest. While this pursuit was conducted over a 25 mile radius and involved many law enforcement agencies, Chief Ping’s actions are emblematic of the courage, valor and perseverance that is truly representative of the law enforcement profession.
Previous Officers of the Year:
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