Steubenville Police Detective Brandon Kelly, in his third year with the Jefferson County Drug Task Force, was recognized by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center for his role in dismantling a local drug trafficking network. He’s shown here with Brandon Kelly with Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson. ~ Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — A detective with the Jefferson County Drug Task Force whose digital communication skills were instrumental in dismantling a drug trafficking network has been recognized by the Ohio Narcotics Intelligence Center for his work.

Steubenville Police Det. Brandon Kelly, in his 10th year with the police department and his third with the Drug Task Force, was one of four recipients of ONIC’s inaugural Protecting All Communities Together (PACT) Award. The award recognizes individuals and organizations that typify “exceptional collaboration, communication, and dedication to safeguarding communities across Ohio.”

Kelly’s role in the investigation was to communicate with ONIC and transfer digital evidence “to create a profile of the key players of the drug trafficking organization.” He said the task force spent months building its case, painstakingly working “from the bottom up, street level all the way to the top.”

“Everyone we arrested or communicated with, we turned that information into ONIC and ONIC was able to create a digital profile, which enabled us to complete a greater picture and take down the larger scale drug trafficking organization,” Kelly said.

The investigation took 10 kilograms of fentanyl and cocaine off the streets and resulted in prison sentences for 14 traffickers. More than $175,000 in cash and eight vehicles deemed proceeds of the illicit operation were forfeited.

“I just want to give credit to Steubenville Police Department, Jefferson County Drug Task Force and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department,” Kelly said. “It was a team effort. I may have been the communication asset with ONIC, but it was a large, collaborative effort with multiple agencies.”

Kelly, a U.S. military veteran, previously served two combat tours in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne Division infantry.

“Brandon has always been a hard worker and someone who has displayed great leadership qualities but also works well in a group setting,” Police Chief Ken Anderson said. “That is why we picked him to go to the drug task force several years ago and he has done a great job since he has been there. Being able to cooperate and collaborate with outside agencies is a big part of what the task force does, and this award shows that he does that very well.”

The task force is a cooperative effort involving the sheriff’s department, city police and the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s office.

Sheriff Fred Abdalla Jr. said Kelly’s award “is very well deserved.”

“All of us are extremely proud of him and he should be proud of himself,” Abdalla said. “Det. Kelly exemplifies everything you would want in a law enforcement officer. He supports his fellow officers and shares his knowledge; he’s professional; he has an impeccable work ethic and when he’s given a task, he is relentless in accomplishing it.

“The work he did in that case was instrumental in its successful prosecution,” the sheriff added. “Everyone loves to work with Det. Kelly because of the positivity he brings. I’m honored to get to work with him.”

Prosecutor Jane Hanlin agreed, calling Kelly “one of the finest officers and finest men you could hope to have serve your community.”

“He is honest, hard-working, fair and dedicated,” she said. “I can think of no finer recipient of this award.”

Anderson said they’re “incredibly proud of Det. Kelly and all the members of the Jefferson County Drug Task Force for their hard work and dedication.”

“This award reminds us of the importance of cooperation throughout a drug investigation by using all the resources available to us to take drugs off the streets and help ensure the successful prosecution of drug traffickers,” he added. “We would like to thank ONIC for all it does to support law enforcement agencies across Ohio.”

Also accepting PACT awards in recognition of their partnership and commitment to protect all Ohio communities were Hamilton County Heroin Coalition Task Force-Cold Case Initiative; Ottawa County Major Crime Unit; and Officer Jason O’Brien, Cincinnati Police Department/FBI Cincinnati Task Force and Special Agent Max Sullivan, Internal Revenue Service.

Receiving ONIC’s first-ever Executive Director’s Award for Excellence Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Megan Farley, Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and Springfield Police Division. That award recognizes criminal justice professionals who are outstanding partners with ONIC and are committed to intelligence-driven, technology-based strategies that protect Ohio’s communities.

“These members of Ohio’s criminal justice community have strengthened our collective efforts to make our state a safer place to live and work,” ONIC Executive Director Cynthia Peterman said. “Recognizing their hard work matters, because their efforts push our shared mission forward and set a standard that inspires all of us.”

Gov. Mike DeWine signed an executive order in July 2019 creating ONIC, a specialized criminal intelligence unit to assist local law enforcement in conducting intelligence-driven drug trafficking investigations. Operated as a division of the Ohio Department of Public Safety, ONIC has locations in Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati. Its criminal intelligence analysts and computer forensic specialists provide investigative, analytical, and digital forensic support to local law enforcement agencies and drug task forces throughout Ohio.