ISP Putnamville District recognizes seven employees

PUTNAMVILLE -- At a recent post meeting, Indiana State Police Lt. Dan Jones, commander of the Putnamville District, recognized six employees for their years of service and one other for safe driving.

Det. Tony Guinn received a longevity award for 25 years of service.

Det. Guinn has served the past 14 years as a detective and conducts various criminal investigations within the district. Some of his cases have been high profile homicide investigations such as the 1979 cold case murder investigation of Kathy Baker. His work resulted in the 2015 arrest and conviction of the suspect, along with a nationally televised segment on the "On the Case with Paula Zahn" show featuring the Baker murder and arrest.

Master Trooper Chip McKee was recognized for 20 years of service.

During his tenure, McKee first served in road patrol, then he served four and a half years in the former ISP Gaming Division and four years in the Motor Patrol Unit (Harley Davidson patrol bikes) before returning to road patrol where he patrols Vigo County. McKee is a graduate of Indiana State University.

Master Trooper Ritch Reynolds was also recognized for 20 years of service.

During his tenure, Reynolds first served in road patrol, then two years in marijuana eradication and three years in meth suppression. Fifteen of his years he volunteered as a firearms instructor for the ISP.

Reynolds is a graduate of Indiana State University and a licensed pilot. He currently patrols the road in Vigo County.

Sgt. Kris Fitzgerald was recognized for 15 years of service and currently is the squad supervisor for troopers in Sullivan County.

Fitzgerald first served in road patrol, then a six-year stint as a crime scene investigator prior to obtaining his recent supervisory position. Fitzgerald is a former ISP underwater search and recovery diver and a recipient of the 2009 W. Kevin Artz Memorial Award for the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. He is also graduate of Indiana State University.

Master Trooper Tom Hanks was recognized for 15 years of service and more importantly, upgraded from senior trooper to master trooper.

A distinction awarded to those men and women who achieve 15 years of satisfactory or above service. Hanks served a seven-year stint as a detective, then returned to the road where he currently patrols Sullivan County and serves as an ISP Field Training Officer. He is also an ISU graduate.

Meanwhile, data input operator Leesa Slover was recognized for 10 years of service. Slover served as an ISP dispatcher for a little more than nine years before accepting her current clerical position at the Putnamville Post.

Master Trooper Don Farris was awarded a rare 1,800,000 safe driving accident-free miles.

Farris, a 35-year veteran of the ISP, is assigned to the district's high traffic areas utilizing various stealth vehicles looking for dangerous, aggressive and impaired drivers.

Farris also conducts many railroad safety education programs for various schools and civic organizations. He is a graduate of Ball State University.