COLUMBUS – The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced the recipients of their 2023 Leadership Awards today. The ceremony recognizes dozens of state and district award winners for their valuable contributions to Ohio and our communities two of those awards went to local Troopers for their acts of duty in their communities
Trooper Adrian E. Wilson received the Robert M. Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award
Trooper Adrian E. Wilson, Office of Training, was honored with the Robert M. Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award, which recognizes officers dedicated to humanitarian causes on the highway and in their communities.
Trooper Wilson has made an impact on many lives in the community. During the 2022 holiday season, a mother and father were killed in a crash in Maryland. Trooper Wilson worked with the Maryland State Police to provide presents to their children who relocated to Ohio to live with family. Shortly after, on February 13, 2023, Trooper Wilson was struck by an impaired driver while removing tire debris from Interstate 71. Even though he was seriously injured and faced significant challenges both physically and mentally, he continued to make an impact. He visited schools with gift bags for the children to say thank you to the students who sent him well wishes. He developed the Warrior Recovery Program based on his own experiences. It’s developed to help troopers who have been involved in on-duty incidents with possible career-ending injuries. Trooper Wilson continues to put others first.
Trooper Wilson joined the Patrol in November 2006 as a member of the 147th Academy Class. He earned his commission in June of the following year and was assigned to the Chillicothe Post. He earned the Ace Award for excellence in auto larceny enforcement in 2011. He also earned the Criminal Patrol Award twice. As a trooper, he also served at the Circleville Post.
Trooper Wilson earned an Associate of Arts degree from Columbus State University in 2005. He served in the United States Marines from 1997 to 2001.
State Auxiliary Officer of the Year – Auxiliary Lieutenant Eric W. Dill
Auxiliary Lieutenant Eric W. Dill joined the Ohio State Highway Patrol Auxiliary in September 2012 and is assigned to the Circleville Post. He was promoted to sergeant in November 2015 and to lieutenant in September 2017.
In 2022, Auxiliary Lieutenant Dill volunteered 500 hours in 2023, riding all shifts with troopers on regular and holiday patrol. He also organized auxiliaries to assist with traffic for the Circleville Pumpkin show, worked concert details at The Ohio State University and assisted troopers on patrol. In 2019, he received the William J. Duffy Award of Excellence.
