Brownsville Officer Austin Meredith Awarded Kentucky VFW Police Officer of the Year

Brownsville Police Chief Jeremy Hodges (L) presents VFW KY Police Officer of the Year to BPD Officer Austin Meredith.

Darren Doyle, story: Photo courtesy of VFW Post 6937
Brownsville Police Officer Austin Meredith was awarded VFW Kentucky Police Officer of the Year last night at a reception at Tayvin Gardens in Chalybeate.

The plaque was presented by Brownsville Police Chief Jeremy Hodges and the certificate was presented by recent past State VFW Commander Edwin Vincent. 

According to a press release from VFW Chapter 6937, Officer Meredith was involved with a criminal pursuit that ranged far and wide across the county on March 30, 2023. During the incident, he was directly engaged for 35 minutes where he was almost run over, shot at to the point of his cruiser becoming inoperable as a result of direct gunfire damage, with several bullets narrowly missing him.

Instead of giving up, he radioed a nearby county deputy to pick him up and together they continued the pursuit, under fire, until its conclusion.  Officer Meredith was noted for his bravery and tenacity in the face of sustained fire, the VFW stated. 

Officer Meredith said he first learned in April that he would be the recipient of the award and that he felt undeserving of the honor. 

"I just want to thank the VFW for their consideration," Meredith told the Edmonson Voice. "Those men have done more for our country and community than we could ever repay them for. I also want to thank Chief Jeremy Hodges and Officer Clay Deweese. During the event that occurred on March 30, 2023, those men were doing everything they could to get to me. It makes the job a lot easier knowing you have men you trust on their way to help you.  I want to thank my wife Hilary for the sacrifice she makes being a law enforcement officer's wife, a title that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I also want to thank God for watching over all of us that night.”

Brownsville VFW Chapter 6937 said Meredith was originally nominated by Chief Hodges to receive the award at the local level, but notoriety of Meredith's work soon spread across the state. 

"It continued up to state headquarters where his package was chosen from among the other 120 VFW Post nominations, and from among the 5,000 law enforcement officers in Kentucky," the VFW said in a released statement. 

"Austin is credited with over 70 narcotics arrests, and is highly visible throughout his shifts, whether providing additional security for high school ball games or participating in traffic enforcement.  He is well known in the community and well respected, treating others the way he would like to be treated."

In 2021, then Deputy Meredith was decorated with the Medal Of Valor in a separate deadly force encounter."