The Ohio State Highway Patrol announced the recipients of the 2024 Leadership Awards at an awards ceremony Friday in Columbus.

Trooper Jared R. Paine of the Canfield Post was one of two recipients of the Robert M. Chiaramonte Humanitarian Award, which recognizes officers dedicated to humanitarian causes on the highway and in their communities.

“Trooper Paine makes a conscious effort to assist the public and his coworkers on a daily basis, and he dedicates his time off-duty to improving the lives of others in his community,” the patrol stated in a news release.

Paine, along with his wife, founded a nonprofit organization called the Emma Elf Project in honor of their daughter who was diagnosed with non-verbal autism. The Mahoning County-based organization brings together kids with developmental disabilities and neuro-typical kids to work on adaptive art projects. The Paines were instrumental in contributing to the creation of a new sensory room for children in the Poland Local School District.

Paine serves as a field training officer, college intern mentor and a member of the Veterans Member Assistance Team.

He began his patrol career in November 2012 as a member of the 154th Academy Class. He earned his commission in April of the following year and was assigned to the St. Clairsville Post. He has also served at the Lisbon Post. In 2023, he was named Post Trooper of the Year and earned the Master Trooper designation in 2024.

Paine served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2005 to 2009.