By LISA HLAVINKA | Staff Writer

MEDINA — Trooper Matt Dowler, a Medina resident, is District 3’s Trooper of the Year.

Dowler, 28, who is stationed at the Ashland post of the state highway patrol, beat out more than 100 troopers in the seven-county district, which comprises the Ashland, Medina, Lorain, Canton and Wooster posts.

Born in Berea, Dowler moved to Spencer Township with his parents when he was young.

“I lived out there pretty much all of my life, and then I just recently moved to Medina two years ago,” he said.

He graduated from Black River High School in 1998 and attended the University of Akron, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.

Dowler almost was finished with the six-month-long Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy when he was deployed to Iraq as a specialist in the Army Reserve. He served for 16 months.

After graduation, he was assigned to the Lima post for four months, and was transferred to the Ashland post, where he has served for six years.

This is the second year in a row Dowler was elected Trooper of the Year by his peers at the Ashland post.

After his Ashland election, Dowler was interviewed by Capt. John Bistor, commander of the District 3 headquarters in Massillon, who selected him to run for Ohio State Trooper of the Year.

In February, Dowler and nine other troopers selected from 10 districts in Ohio will travel to Columbus, where the overall winner will be announced.

“Last year, when I went for district, I didn’t win, and I was disappointed, but luckily they nominated me again this year, so we’ll see what happens in state,” Dowler said.

Ashland post commander Lt. Michael Combs said Dowler was elected because of his ability to integrate traffic enforcement with criminal investigation.

“Matt stays active in traffic enforcement, and they often result in criminal arrest,” Combs said.

He said Dowler also was elected because of his leadership skills, and explained many of the relatively younger troopers often ask for his help.

“I have six years under me now, and most of the younger guys will come up and look for guidance on what they should do with certain traffic stops or certain types of drug cases,” Dowler said.

He said enforcing drug laws is one of his favorite parts of the job.

One of his proudest moments in 2008 was an August drug bust in which a man speeding down Interstate 71 was found to be in possession of 2.5 pounds of marijuana and a bag of hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Combs said being nominated two years in a row by his peers is an accomplishment in itself for Dowler.

“We have more than 100 troopers in the district and Matt was selected out of all of them,” he said. “It is very much an honor, and we are proud he represents himself and our post the way he does.”

Hlavinka may be reached at 330-721-4048 or lhlavinka@ohio.net.