Paducah Site Protective Force Steers 106,000 Miles Safely

Paducah Site Security Police Officer Joe Molinaro conducts an inspection of a Protective Force vehicle before starting his shift. Routine vehicle inspections played a significant role in the force achieving 106,000 miles accident-free during fiscal year 2025.

PADUCAH, Ky. — The Paducah Site Protective Force has marked 106,000 miles of driving without any accidents in one year.

It was the first time members of the force exceeded 100,000 miles for a fiscal year, and the second consecutive fiscal year they drove accident-free, with nearly 195,000 miles driven combined for the two years.

“The Protective Force are always in constant patrol,” U.S. Department of Energy Office of Environmental ManagementPortsmouth Paducah Project Office Security Team Lead Mark Allen said. “They ensure the Paducah Site and its employees are provided around-the-clock protection, and it’s proven with the miles driven.”

The Protective Force primarily attributed the fiscal year 2025 accomplishment to the diligence of its security police officers through an enhanced vehicle maintenance program and a heightened sense of responsibility for their vehicles.

“At the Paducah Site, the security police officers take ownership, pride and accountability for their patrol vehicles 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year,” Paducah Site Protective Force Security Director Eddie Gray II said. “Reaching this accomplishment shows they take their job seriously to ensure the Paducah Site and the community are safe in any type of security event.”

A Protective Force vehicle sits at the ready for Paducah Site security police officers. Recent upgrades have provided them a new sense of pride and responsibility for their vehicles.

Reaching this landmark is especially notable considering the officers add about 1,500 to 2,000 miles to each patrol vehicle odometer each week at a site with around 19 miles of road. Driving 106,000 miles is equivalent to traveling around the world five times.

Due to the high mileage, the Protective Force implemented a program to track routine maintenance and ensure the vehicles are up to U.S. General Services Administration standards.

“A good, safe vehicle allows us to get that kind of mileage,” Paducah Site Protective Force Security Manager Mike Turner said. “Before the tracker tool was in place, we would catch tires not to General Services Administration standards and oil changes past due. We keep them maintained for a level of safety for the security police officers and their response capability.”

Part of this program includes oil changes every 3,000 miles instead of the standard 6,000 miles. Additionally, the officers perform internal and external vehicle inspections at the beginning and end of each shift. They also clean their vehicles inside and out at least weekly.

“The security police officers understand it’s important for them to have these vehicles,” Paducah Site Protective Force Capt. Shawn Craven said. “They show more dedication to their vehicles. Many of them will wipe down their patrol car before entering, which keeps it extra clean and organized, helping prepare them for each shift.”

-Contributor: Zachary Boyarski