A Salina Police Officer is honored as one of the best in his line of enforcement. 

Master Police Officer Brent Rupert has been named the 2013 Kansas Narcotics Officer of the Year. The narcotics law enforcement organization, which was founded 22-years-ago, has over 630 members.

Salina Police Captain Jim Norton tells KSAL News that Rupert was recognized for “Operation 7 Falls”.

Working with the I 135 / I 70 Drug Task Force, Rupert was instrumental in a case that involved trafficking of large amounts of methamphetamine and marijuana from Colorado to Salina. Norton says “because of his thoroughness we were able to show that over 20 pounds of meth was imported, and over $150,000 in drug proceeds changed hands”. Norton also says that two motorcycles which were stolen in Salina and traded for drugs were also recovered as a part of the case.

Before all was said and done, there were multiple federal indictments as a result of “Operation 7 Falls”.

Norton adds “Brent wasn’t really trying to get any awards, he credits the whole task force for its work on the case”.

Rupert, who started at the Salina Police Department as a dispatcher in 1994, was presented the officer of the year award at the Kansas Narcotics Officers Association Annual Conference in Topeka last week.

Rupert is the second Salina Police Officer to receive the honor. In 2009 Chad McCary was honored for his drug task force work in “Operation Full Throttle”.