Kentucky State Police Detective Brad Harper, a resident of Alvaton, received the Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations West Branch Detective of the Year award June 17 in Lexington.

Harper has been on the state police force for 15 years and works with the West Branch. According to the KSP website, the West Branch is in charge of detecting, investigating and apprehending people who violate laws regarding illicit drugs. This branch covers eight posts or areas of the state, including Allen, Barren, Butler, Edmonson, Hart, Logan, Simpson and Warren counties. Gov. Matt Bevin and KSP Commissioner Rick Sanders awarded this honor to the detective.

“I was definitely humbled and was happy to be chosen,” Harper said. “There were many other detectives that deserved it as much as I did.”

Over the years, Harper has been a part of several successful drug busts, including one this spring in which six arrests were made for the manufacturing of methamphetamine and cultivation of marijuana. Harper said teamwork is the key to success.

“I’m glad that I got the award, but any time that you do this type of work it’s a team effort not just a single person, so it get feels good to get it, but you want your partners to get it, too,” Harper said.

Harper graduated from Warren Central High School in 1991 and went on to obtain a degree in criminal justice from Eastern Kentucky University. His parents, Ronnie and Kathy Pearson, are also from Alvaton.