Sergeant receives honor from ISP

Thursday, August 5, 2010

PUTNAMVILLE -- Recently, the Indiana State Police awarded Sgt. Joe Watts from the Putnamville District with a safe driving award.

Watts has accumulated 1 million safe driving miles since graduating from the academy.

Watts is currently the public information officer and recruiter for the Putnamville Post.

Watts, a Parke County native, began his career with the Indiana State Police in 1984 as a telecommunications operator (dispatcher) for the Terre Haute District. In 1985, he was accepted into the 43rd Recruit School and after graduation, was assigned back to the Terre Haute District.

He patrolled Vigo County until 1991, where he transferred to Parke and Vermillion counties.

During that time, he achieved his Senior Trooper classification in 1995 and his Master Trooper classification in 2000.

In June of 2001, he was promoted to Corporal and served in this administrative position until June of 2004 where he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and transferred to the Office of the Superintendent to serve as the Public Information Officer for the Terre Haute District.

During his tenure, Sergeant Watts served as a Field Training Officer, an Emergency Vehicle Operations Driving Instructor, First Responder Instructor, and was a 10-year member of the Indiana State Police Emergency Response Team.

He is the recipient of two Indiana State Police Life Saving awards, one for saving an elderly female who became unconscious and unresponsive during choking and the second for pulling an unconscious driver from a burning vehicle after an automobile crash.

The second award also resulted in Watts receiving a Hoosier Hero Award presented by the Indiana Pacers at a home basketball game at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Over the years, he has received many letters of commendation, as well as letters of appreciation.

Watts has also been very active in the Indiana State Police Youth Camp Programs during his years of service.

Watts and his wife Kathy have been married for 26 years and have two grown children.

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