PIKEVILLE, Ky. (July 20, 2023) – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) held its annual civilian awards ceremony to honor agency employees for their dedication to creating safer communities and exemplary public service.
Post 9 Pikeville area Polygraph Examiner II employee Michael Webb was among those recipients.
Civilian employees serve in a variety of roles at KSP from dispatch, maintenance, drivers testing, information technology, public relations, and records support. All of these roles allow KSP troopers and officers to effectively do their jobs to protect Kentuckians and stay safe while on the job. KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. spoke directly to the award winners about their important role within the agency.
“While you may not wear uniforms, you are just as essential and hard-working as those who do,” said Commissioner Burnett. “You are critical to our agency’s success and it’s important that we come together to recognize the great work each of you do.”
Commissioner Burnett presented Pike County resident Michael Webb with the 2022 ‘Forensic Service Support’ Award. Webb serves as a Polygraph Examiner II and is a fifteen-year veteran of the agency.
Michael completed 151 polygraph tests last year, which accounts for 40% of all polygraph tests by KSP in 2022.
There was a criminal abuse case involving an infant that Michael was vital in helping clear. The baby was unresponsive and having seizures while at daycare. Through his investigative skills, he was able to get the suspect to be truthful about how the injuries occurred, and the day care employee was charged.
The night three police officers were killed in Floyd County, Michael was asked to come to Post 9 Pikeville and operate the recording equipment for the interview room. He stayed up all night taking care of the equipment and assisting Post detectives however they needed.
During the ceremony, Commissioner Burnett presented the 2022 ‘Civilian of the Year’ Award and ‘Supervisor of the Year’ Award to Franklin County resident Adam Columbia. Columbia, a 17-year veteran of the agency, who serves the commonwealth as the KSP Information Systems Manager with the Information Technology Branch in Frankfort.
The complete list of the KSP 2022 civilian employee awards include:
Police Communications Support Award
Karen Boggs, Telecommunicator III, Post 13 Hazard
Jessica Newcom, Police Telecommunicator III, Post 2 Madisonville
Whitney Jett, Telecommunicator I, Post 6 Dry Ridge
Post Operations Support Award
Melody Brown, Victims Advocate II, Post 2 Madisonville
Donald Williamson, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Inspector, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement East Region
Supply/Properties Management Award
Ricky Simpson, Maintenance Worker II, Properties Management Branch
Drivers Testing Award
Jo Anne Hobgood, Driver’s Test Administrator, Drivers Testing Branch
Forensic Services Support
Michael Webb, Polygraph Examiner II, Polygraph Section
Information Technology Award
Mike Hoskins, Information Systems Supervisor, Computer Technology Branch
Records Technical Support Award
Tina Adams, Administrative Specialist I, Criminal ID and Records Branch
Commercial Vehicle Support Award
Andrew French, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Inspector, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Central Region
Special Enforcement Support Award
Billianne Withers, Auditor Special Investigations II, East Drug Enforcement and Special Investigations Unit
Administrative Services Award
Alexus Larson, Information Officer III, Public Affairs Branch
Supervisor of the Year Award
Adam Columbia, Information Systems Manager, Computer Technology Branch
Career Service Achievement Award
Joan Allen, Administrative Specialist I, Criminal ID and Records Branch
KSP is currently seeking Kentuckians with an ambition to serve to commonwealth to join Team Kentucky. More information on job specifics and applications can be found here.