Employees recognized for their dedication to public safety in 2024.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (August 7, 2025) – Today, the Beshear-Coleman administration honored 14 Kentucky State Police (KSP) civilian employees for their dedication to enhancing public safety. Awards presented included the 2024 Civilian of the Year, Career Achievement, Police Communications Support and Supervisor of the Year, among others.
KSP’s 800 civilian employees serve in a variety of roles, from telecommunications, maintenance and driver testing to information technology, public relations and records support.
“The Kentucky State Police is one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the nation, and it is because of the strong team approach between civilian and sworn personnel,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “Together, a New Kentucky Home is being created, and future generations can turn their dreams into a reality because of the increase in public safety that is achieved from our civilian employees across the state.”
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. echoed those sentiments during today’s ceremony and praised the dedication of the agency’s civilian employees.
“Civilian personnel are vital to the success of this agency,” Commissioner Burnett said. “They are the agency’s trusted partners working hand in hand with our troopers and officers, supporting everything from frontline response to long-term casework. Their dedication and loyalty do not go unnoticed.”
Among this year’s honorees, Jeremy Triplett was named the 2024 Civilian of the Year. A 24-year veteran, Triplett was recently appointed as KSP’s forensic laboratory director. In 2024, Triplett led a major $300,000 upgrade of the BEAST Laboratory Information Management System, maintained the laboratory’s national accreditation and was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Academy.
“It’s an honor to be named civilian of the year, especially among these 14 equally deserving civilian award winners,” Triplett said. It means so much to have Secretary Jackson, Commissioner Burnett, the Command Staff and KSP Foundation here to honor our civilian employees and show how much they appreciate the work we do. We are all one team serving public safety and that’s demonstrated in ceremonies like these. I’m beyond grateful for the recognition and the award.”
The 2024 KSP civilian employee award recipients include:
Administrative Services Award
Donnie Webster, Event Coordinator I, Public Affairs Branch
Career Achievement Award
Jeff Brown, Mechanical Maintenance and Operations Supervisor, Trooper Island Camp
Commercial Vehicle Support Award
Brandon Arwood, Inspector I, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Central Region
Drivers Testing Award
Christy Eatmon, Certified Driver’s Test Examiner, Driver Testing Branch
Forensic Services Support Award
Kim Rogers, Forensic Scientist Specialist II, Central Laboratory Branch
Information Technology Award
Laurie Buchanan, Justice Program Administrator, Electronic Crime Branch
Police Communication Support Award
Carole Waldrop, Public Safety Telecommunicator II, Post 3, Bowling Green
Brittany Scroggins, Public Safety Telecommunicator III, Post 6, Dry Ridge
Christopher Taylor, Public Safety Telecommunicator III, Post 13, Hazard
Post Operations Support Award
Mike Johnson, Maintenance Worker, Post 1, Mayfield
Adam Wilson, Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Intelligence Branch
Records Technical Support
Michael Vanatta, Grants Administrator, Division of Records Management
Supervisor of the Year Award
Jeremy Triplett, Forensic Laboratory Director, KSP Forensic Laboratory System
Supplies Properties Management
Misty Stone, Facilities Maintenance Worker, KSP Headquarters
The agency is recruiting interested individuals to join Team Kentucky who have an ambition of creating a better, safer commonwealth for future generations. For more information and to apply, click here.
The Beshear-Coleman administration believes every single Kentuckian has the right to feel safe in their community, workplaces and schools, and the Governor has taken steps to increase public safety.
During this past legislative session, the Governor signed House Bill 6 providing a 3% salary increase to all state employees effective July 2024, with another 3% increase effective July 2025.
Recently, Kentucky released the 2024 Crime in Kentucky report, which showed an overall decrease of nearly 8% in serious crimes. Some of the notable data indicates an 11.55% decrease in drug/narcotic offenses, a 12.7% decrease in homicide offenses and a 13.78% decrease in sex offenses. The Governor said this builds on the administration’s recent announcements of Kentucky securing another record-low recidivism rate and the third consecutive decrease in overdose deaths.
Click here to review some of the additional actions the Beshear-Coleman administration has taken to support law enforcement, increase public safety and support crime victims.
For more information about KSP’s commitment to creating a better Kentucky by making the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger, and the nation more secure by providing exceptional law enforcement, click here.
Editor’s Note: identification (left to right, front row to back row) Carole Waldrop, Christy Eatmon, Donnie Webster, Misty Stone, Laurie Buchanan, Jeremy Triplett, Brittany Scroggins, Mike Johnson, Christopher Taylor, Adam Wilson and Jeff Brown. Not featured: Mike Vanatta, Brandon Arwood and Kim Rogers
(Sherry Bray – Kentucky State Police)