First Female Trooper of the Year Hails from Leonardtown Barrack

PIKESVILLE, Md. (March 18, 2016)—Trooper First Class Casey Ruth, of the Leonardtown Barrack has been named the 2015 Trooper of the Year. Ruth is the first female to win the statewide award. She was a member of the 139th Trooper Candidate Class and graduated in early 2013. She was assigned to the Leonardtown Barrack and has worked there ever since.

In 2015, TFC Ruth led the Field Operations Bureau in criminal arrests with 72 and served an additional 21 arrest warrants. She ranked at or near the top of almost every other statistical category at a very competitive barrack. She made 1,435 traffic stops, issued 859 citations, 853 warnings, 477 safety equipment repair orders, and arrested 18 impaired drivers. TFC Ruth was named the Leonardtown Barrack Trooper of the Month for five times in 2015, more than any other trooper at the barrack.

During one incident last year, she was able to successfully and peacefully talk a suicidal woman out of her residence. TFC Ruth's skill helped avoid a barricade situation and prevented the woman from harming herself.

Her superiors say she showed initiative by constantly volunteering to attend specialized training and was selected to be a barrack recruiter. She built positive public relations by interacting with children and adults at a number of community events, including raising nearly $500 for Special Olympics Maryland and participating in Shop with a Cop in St. Mary's County to help children in need have a happy holiday.

According to her supervisor, Cpl. Pilkerton, TFC Ruth is an extremely motivated trooper, evidenced by her enforcement efforts and her involvement in the small things that receive little recognition. Her dedication to duty leaves a positive impact on the children and families of St. Mary's County each day.