On Tuesday, Aug. 6, the Kiwanis Club of Montgomery recognized Senior Trooper Lee Jenkins III, with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division, as the recipient of the 2024 Trooper of the Year Award.
Alabama State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey, served as the club’s keynote speaker, with ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor and ALEA’s Department of Public Safety (DPS) Director Colonel Jonathan Archer, in attendance.
A Montgomery native, Sr. Trooper Jenkins first served as an officer with the Montgomery Police Department before graduating from ALEA’s Training Center on Feb. 8, 2022, as a member of Trooper Class 2021-B. Nominated by Montgomery Post Commander, Sgt. Tony Smith, Sr. Trooper Jenkins was awarded the Trooper of the Year Award due to his hard work and dedication to protecting and serving the State of Alabama. During the past year, Sr. Trooper Jenkins investigated 119 traffic crashes, issued 941 warnings, recovered a stolen vehicle and conducted 1,928 enforcement actions. Additionally, Sr. Trooper Jenkins serves as a Traffic Homicide Investigator (THI) and was recently chosen as a Physical Training Specialist and Field Training Officer (FTO). ALEA FTOs are Senior Troopers who are responsible for the training and evaluation of newly hired Trooper Trainees.
ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor said, “Sr. Trooper Jenkins exemplifies the highest standards of dedication, integrity and service. Aside from his outstanding on-duty performance, he also extends his service well beyond the call of duty and demonstrates remarkable leadership and compassion for those in his community. I would like to thank the Montgomery Kiwanis Club for their strong support of law enforcement and congratulate Sr. Trooper Jenkins on today’s honorable and well-deserved recognition.”
Off duty, Sr. Trooper Jenkins serves as a mentor with the Helping Montgomery Families Initiative with the District Attorney's Office in Montgomery County, where he is tasked with intervening in the lives of school children who have been suspended from school. This past year, he also coordinated with the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department to assist in finding families in need a meal for Thanksgiving.
