By STACY MILLBERG - Staff Writer - smillberg@starbeacon.com
SAYBROOK TOWNSHIP — There are a lot of aspects to being an Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper, but for Trooper Dan Jesse there is one aspect of the job that he seems to excel at.
For the second consecutive year, Jesse was honored with the OHP’s Ace Award. The award is given to troopers for excellence in combating auto larceny and recovering stolen vehicles. OHP troopers who receive the award must attain at least five stolen-vehicle recoveries within 12 months and make a corresponding arrest, Jesse said.
To date, Jesse is leading the state in stolen-vehicle recoveries, locating 10 stolen vehicles valued at $93,000. At the end of the year, the trooper with the most stolen-vehicle recoveries is up for another award, the Blue Max Award, which is one of the most prestigious awards a trooper can receive, Jesse said. The award is a difficult one to achieve, but Jesse said it is certainly one of his goals.
Jesse joined OHP in May 2004 as a member of the 142nd Academy Class. He received his commission in November 2004 and was assigned to the Ashtabula post, where he has remained since that time.
“Being in law enforcement is something I’ve always wanted to do,” he said. “I’ve always aspired to help the public in one way or another, and this gives me the opportunity to do that.”
Jesse said recovering stolen vehicles is something he works very hard at.
“I love to recover stolen vehicles,” he said. “I like looking for them.”
Jesse said success has to do with being in the right place at the right time, but there is a lot of investigative work that goes into it.
“A lot of times, other agencies take the report for the stolen vehicle and put out a BOLO (be on the lookout), and I happen to be in the right place at the right time,” he said.
Jesse said each year, only about five to 10 troopers in the state receive the Ace awards.
