ISP recognizes Putnamville's Dravigne as State Trooper of the Year

INDIANAPOLIS -- During an awards program Friday at the Indiana Government Center, Indiana State Police Putnamville District Trooper Yan J. Dravigne was recognized as the 2014 Trooper of the Year for the department by ISP Supt. Douglas G. Carter and his primary staff.

Yan Dravigne

Trooper Dravigne also received two additional awards at the ceremony -- one for the 2014 Trooper of the District and the second for the 2014 District DUI Award, both for the Putnamville Post. Dravigne previously received the 2013 Trooper of the District for the Putnamville Post.

The 2014 Trooper of the Year plaque reads: Presented to the trooper who inspires others to serve in a manner that significantly exceed expectations. Performance includes outstanding levels of traffic and criminal enforcement, case and crash investigations, public information programs, and most importantly serving the communities within the State of Indiana. The Trooper of the Year has exemplified strength of character, a strong work ethic, and an unsurpassed level of integrity that is the embodiment of being an Indiana State Trooper.

Dravigne was overwhelmingly selected by his peers and the Putnamville District Command Team for his aggressive enforcement efforts and work ethic.

In 2014, Trooper Dravigne led the Putnamville District in driving under the influence arrests, criminal arrests and commercial vehicle citations. Dravigne made 31 DUI arrests and 307 criminal arrests, with 40 of the criminal arrests being felonies.

The majority of his criminal arrests were for drug offenses, counterfeiting and human trafficking. The 169 commercial vehicle citations were for various safety violations.

Trooper Dravigne is a seven-year veteran of the department, serving the first four years as an ISP civilian motor carrier inspector and the latest three as a road trooper. During his time as an MCI, Dravigne received the Ray Reed Award for 2010 MCI of the Year and in 2011 the Commanders Award for his outstanding drug interdiction efforts.

Dravigne is a native of Canada, but graduated from Northview High School in Brazil. He and his family reside in Putnam County.

Indiana State Police Trooper of the Year for 2014, Yan Dravigne (center) of Putnamville, is flanked by ISP Supt. Doug Carter (left) and Col. Mark French, ISP chief of staff, after Dravigne was presented the Trooper of the Year award for the department Friday.

"Trooper Dravigne is a role model and an example of how we expect our troopers to perform," Lt. Dan Jones, commander of the Putnamville District, commented. "He is an exceptional trooper who is most worthy of these awards."