Alumnus Andy Olson Named Kentucky State Police Trooper of the Year

COLUMBIA, Ky. - Kentucky state trooper Andy K. Olson's former college professors aren't surprised that he was recently recognized as one of the commonwealth's outstanding state troopers.

Andy Olson '04 was named 2008 Kentucky State Police Trooper of the Year.

"At Lindsey Wilson, Andy was an excellent student and very focused person," said Associate Professor Sociology and Criminal Justice Daniel W. Phillips III. "You knew that he had the drive and determination to be a successful law-enforcement officer."

Olson, a 2004 Lindsey Wilson graduate, was recently named 2008 Kentucky State Police Trooper of the Year. He is a five-year member of Kentucky State Police.

Olson - who is assigned to Kentucky State Police Post 15 in Columbia - was selected for the award among 21 troopers who were nominated. A trooper from all 16 KSP posts and five specialized units were nominated from the 900-member force.

"It's a great honor to receive this award," Olson said. "Knowing how hard my co-workers work, and to be selected among them is an honor and a privilege."

Olson is a Campbellsville, Ky., native and graduate of Taylor County High School who now makes his home in Greensburg, Ky., with his wife, Amanda, and their 2-year-old son, Ayden. At Lindsey Wilson, Olson was a record-setting track athlete who graduated with honors with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology.

Capt. Greg Baird, commander of KSP Post 15, said Olson's "investigative tenacity" was a significant factor in concluding two major felony cases in 2008.

One case involved the repeated rape of two juveniles. Olson identified and arrested two adult perpetrators, both of whom were convicted and received multiple-year sentences. In the other case, Olson's perseverance and attention to detail led to multiple arrests in a major cocaine-trafficking and burglary ring.

Olson said troopers never know what to expect when they report for duty each day. In May 2005, Olson and two Metcalfe County sheriff's officers were shot and wounded while serving arrest warrants.

"You can range from changing a tire on the parkway to being involved in a shooting. You never know," he said. "That's part of … why we do this job. It's the un-predictableness, coupled along with the community service. It's a good feeling to get out there and help somebody."