Defiance Post Announces Trooper of the Year.

Ohio State Highway Patrol Trooper Chase D. Black has been selected as the 2025 Trooper of
the Year at the Defiance Post.
The selection of Trooper Black, 31, is in recognition of outstanding service during 2025 at the Defiance Post.
Fellow officers stationed at the Defiance Post chose Trooper Black based on leadership abilities, professional
ethics, courteous treatment of others, enthusiastic work attitude, and cooperation with supervisors, peers, and
the public.
Trooper Black is now in contention for the District and State Trooper of the Year Award to be announced at a
later date.
Trooper Black joined the Highway Patrol in 2016 and was assigned to the Van Wert Post. While serving at the
Van Wert Post, Trooper Black was selected as the Post Trooper of the Year in 2018. Trooper Black transferred
to the Defiance Post in 2022. Originally from Antwerp, Trooper Black graduated from Antwerp High School.
Trooper Black has been awarded the Traffic Safety Award Ribbon, Field Training Officer Ribbon, Fitness
Ribbon, Safe Driving Ribbon and twice awarded the Criminal Patrol Ribbon.
Trooper Black and his wife, Mikinzie, live in Defiance with their son Tatum.