The Portsmouth Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol joined posts across the state in naming their selections for Post Trooper and Dispatcher of the Year on Tuesday.

Trooper Bryan Conley and Dispatcher Jason Whitt were honored with the nomination and now will be in the running with other candidates from the Jackson District for the honor of District Trooper and Dispatcher of the Year. The winners will join other district winners from each of the state's 10 districts at an awards ceremony in Columbus in February to select the State Trooper and Dispatcher of the Year.

Conley says he's been a trooper for 15 years, and spent the last 14 of them at the Portsmouth Post.

“I know all of the troopers who are eligible for district, and all are excellent troopers,” he said. “Obviously it would be an honor for any one of us. I'm proud to be chosen.”

Whitt has been with the Portsmouth Post of the OSHP for two years, and this is his second consecutive year being named Post Dispatcher of the Year.

“I'm honored to receive it,” Whitt said. “I'm chosen by my peers, and it is an honor. With the competition I have, if you can call it that, it's really hard to get. I work with some really great dispatchers, all deserving of an honor like this.”

Before working for the OSHP, Whitt was a professor of communications at Ohio University Southern Campus in Ironton, but said he “burned out,” and went looking for a change of direction.

Other candidates from the Jackson District to join Conley and Whitt in the running for district honors include Tpr. Keith Allen and Dispatcher Rodney Robinson (Athens); Tpr. Danny Howard and Dispatcher Bret Hutchinson (Gallipolis); Tpr. Robert Haislop III and Dispatcher Carolyn McManis (Jackson); Tpr. Randy Boggs and Dispatcher Drew Fry (Ironton); and Tpr. Douglas DeBord and Dispatcher Nicholas Barrows (Chillicothe).

When chosen for post honors, the trooper and dispatcher are each awarded a certificate. If chosen for district honors, the OSHP awards a plaque and troopers are given a uniform insignia; and the trooper named State Trooper of the Year will receive a new cruiser to drive for the entire year.

Lt. Edward Crispen, of the OSHP Portsmouth Post, said the district winners already have been selected and will be announced shortly.

RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 235.