2024 Statewide Recognition Awards Event

OUTSTANDING RADIO COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR – Operators nominated for this award show their dedication to saving lives on Minnesota’s roadways in their partnership with law enforcement officials, first responders, and community members by responding to, and directing, personnel on traffic stops, arrests, and crashes as they occur.

Operator Karley Wilkey – Minnesota State Patrol, Regional Traffic Management Center: Karley has worked as a Minnesota State Patrol Dispatcher since March 2019. Upon completion of her training phases, Karley was assigned to the overnight shift where she has been a full time employee for most of her time as a Dispatcher.  Dispatchers have the arduous task of compiling all information from a 9-1-1 caller, and tailor it in a specific way to provide an output for law enforcement Officers; on this occasion, Troopers.  Simultaneously, Troopers require resources while performing their job, which get echoed throughout all law enforcement radios and need to be relayed back to Troopers on the road. 

What makes Karley standout in the performance of her duties, is the manner in which she goes above and beyond when it comes to getting Troopers to locate and stop a vehicle suspected of impaired driving.  I have listened to many Dispatchers air information regarding “Driving Complaints”, and most of the time information aired is taken as “for information” or “situational awareness” only.  However, when Karley fields a call regarding a driving complaint, she goes the extra mile by 1) eliciting as many specific driving conduct details from the caller, 2) looks at the asset map for any Troopers in the vicinity, 3) attempts to locate said vehicle via MN DOT cameras, 4) airs the driving complaint as an event with a follower (or following via cam) to any Troopers or other law enforcement in the area. 

Karley’s efforts are notorious and well known throughout our agency.  All Metro Troopers know that when Karley is on the job, she will more than likely lead a Trooper to locate a driving complaint, more often than not, leading to an impaired driving arrest.  During 2023, Karley successfully led a Trooper to remove an impaired driver on at least 40 different occasions (all documented).  It can be said that Karley engineered the effort which led to this successful apprehension/removal.  The “40 occasions” do not speak to the amount of times in which Karley attempts to lead Troopers to locate the potentially impaired driver.  There are definitely occasions when the caller is unable to follow, or the suspect vehicle is lost in sight, and/or any other unforeseeable events happen.  Therefore, I can confidently say that Karley repeats these efforts multiple times per night, which have ultimately netted more than 40 impaired drivers removed from our roads (three to one ratio).

Karley’s efforts are a daily thing as she is never low in energy and always eager/motivated to remove an impaired driver.  It can be said that she does more than ‘call taking.’  She comes to work looking forward to engineering the location and removal of impaired drivers.  Her passion is palpable and her energy is contagious.  Troopers know to field Karley’s driving complaints as the possibility of removing an impaired driver is great.

There have also been occasions that are not driving complaints.  Karley is well aware of NHTSA stats indicating the days of the week and times of the day in which impaired driving is more likely to occur.  As such, during these “peak” impaired driving hours, Karley has built a reputation for her ability to locate crashes via MN DOT cameras, and relay important information to Troopers responding.  Karley has law enforcement training and previously served as a Community Service Officer for a local agency, and thus she utilizes her training/experience to make key observations for responding Troopers.  Karley informs Troopers of who is seen exiting the driver side of the vehicle, how many occupants may be in the vehicle, what the driving individual is wearing (description), and, on occasions in which the driver attempts to flee, Karley has led the Troopers to the exact location where the fleeing suspect was located (most times impaired). 

Not enough can be said about how instrumental Karley is to the location and removal of impaired drivers.  Karley is our current ‘impaired driving’ gem in the Metro.  We must also keep in mind that Karley works in the (arguably) busiest, or second busiest, PSAP center in the state.  Karley streams and handles many calls which are not always of an impaired driving nature, which makes her efforts towards impaired driving more remarkable.

Karley is passionate about her job, enthused about removing impaired drivers, savvy with the technology at her disposal, keen with the evidentiary details, conscious for the safety of her Troopers, patient with all callers, and a great anticipator of resources.  Karley often times submits video and audio requests in order to preserve evidence way before Troopers even think about requesting them.  She is a great partner. There are many Dispatchers and there are always calls for service via 9-1-1.  However, nobody is as unique, as sharp, or as effective as Karley is when it comes to removing an impaired driver.  Karley has received many “thank you” emails from supervisors and Troopers – her efforts are unparalleled.  Karley is a great asset to the State Patrol and she works in the right shift to exercise her talents.  Karley’s efforts deserve to be recognized by MADD as she plays a key role in removing impaired drivers while also serving as a motivator to keep going, for her and her peers.  (~Trooper Gustavo Culbeaux)