Mayfield area Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Branch employee honored at award ceremony

(KBSI) – A Mayfield area Kentucky State Police Driver Testing Branch employee was recently honored at KSP’s annual civilian awards ceremony.

The ceremony was held to honor agency employees for their dedication to creating safer communities and exemplary public service.

Post 1 Mayfield area Driver Testing Branch employee Jo Anne Hobgood was among those recipients.

Civilian employees serve in a variety of roles from dispatch, maintenance, drivers testing, information technology, public relations, and records support. All of these roles allow troopers and officers to do their jobs to protect Kentuckians and stay safe while on the job.

“While you may not wear uniforms, you are just as essential and hard-working as those who do,” said KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. to the winners. “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 McCracken County resident Jo Anne Hobgood with the 2022 ‘Driver Testing’ Award. She serves as a Driver’s Test Administrator and is a three-year veteran of the agency.

Jo Anne was a great asset when the agency transitioned to Regional Driver Testing locations across Kentucky, according to KSP.

She helped create the online scheduling platform and also physically moved and set up new offices. She developed informational sheets for testing at each regional office and QR codes for applicants to scan for easier scheduling.

Hobgood was a nominee and finalist for the national driver administrator award which is sponsored by the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

Hobgood goes above and beyond her job duties. In one situation, a homeless woman was staying in the booth next to a KSP Road Test location. Hobgood found a shelter for her to stay in and let the woman wait in her car with heat until she could be transported to the facility.

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 is a 17-year veteran of the agency. He 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 seeking Kentuckians with an ambition to serve to commonwealth to join Team Kentucky. More information on job specifics and applications can be found here.