“I’ve been part of some prestigious organizations over the years,” Lovingier said during an awards ceremony at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. “This is one uniform I’ve worn that is never going to come off.”
By Hurst Laviana
The Wichita Eagle
WICHITA, Kan. — Kevin Lovingier has worn just two uniforms during his working life. For 10 years he wore a baseball uniform while pitching in the New York Yankees minor league organization.
For the past two years, he’s worn a Sedgwick County sheriff’s uniform while working as a detention deputy in the Sedgwick County Jail.
Sheriff’s officials on Wednesday cited Lovingier’s dedication and positive attitude while naming him the winner of the department’s Michael S. Reele Award.
“I’ve been part of some prestigious organizations over the years,” Lovingier said during an awards ceremony at the Sedgwick County Courthouse. “This is one uniform I’ve worn that is never going to come off.”
The award is given annually to a member of the Sheriff’s Office who exemplifies the department’s core values of integrity, duty, ethics, attitude, leadership and service. The award was created in honor of Deputy Mike Reele, who died of leukemia on May 14, 2002.
Other honorees were Cadet Lt. Cortney Harp, named Cadet of the Year, and Reserve Sgt. Sean Chambers, named Reserve Officer of the Year.
Lovingier, 38, said a series of unrelated events led him from his home in Orange County, Calif., to a job in the Sedgwick County Jail.
“One thing led to another and here I sit,” he said.
Before he was offered a baseball scholarship at the University of Oklahoma, Lovingier felt drawn to criminal justice.
He said his grandfather, a longtime member of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, showed him the merits of a law enforcement career.
“I grew up around it,” he said. “My grandfather was pretty proud of what he did. It was an easy pick for me.”
Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals during his senior year at Oklahoma, Lovingier eventually became a free agent and signed with the Yankees.
While playing for the Arkansas Travelers in 1996, Lovingier met his wife, Kerrie Keltner, who was in the stands at a Wichita Wranglers baseball game. The couple now have three young children.
When he retired from baseball, Lovingier’s roots were in Wichita. He finished his criminal justice degree at Wichita State and landed a job at the Sheriff’s Office. He said he’s never looked back.
“I enjoy going to work,” he said. “There’s not very many jobs out there where you can feel good about what you do.”
Copyright 2009 The Wichita Eagle