Morehead, Ky. (September 14, 2022) –The Kentucky State Police (KSP) held its annual sworn awards ceremony in Lexington to honor 75 troopers and officers who put on a uniform each day to patrol Kentucky’s neighborhoods with a mission of serving and protecting their fellow citizens. The achievement awards presented were for acts of bravery and service that occurred in 2021.

During the ceremony, KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. recognized the agency’s troopers and officers for going beyond the mission of KSP in 2021 to protect and serve the citizens of the commonwealth by responding to two historic natural disasters, running into unthinkable dangers, assisting with the continued fight against the deadly drug epidemic and answering thousands of calls for service.

Two troopers from the Post 8 area were included in those honors.

Trooper Joseph Semtak was named 2021 Post 8 Trooper of the Year. Trooper Semtak is a 3-year veteran of KSP assigned to Post 8 Morehead.

Detective Kyler Wright was named 2021 Post 8 Detective of the Year and KSP Detective of the Year. Detective Wright is a 5-year veteran of KSP assigned to Post 8 Morehead.

Captain Dowdy stated, “Post 8 is very proud of Trooper Semtak and Detective Wright.  Both are excellent Troopers who serve the people of the Post 8 District.  Additionally, a Post 8 Detective has now won “Detective of the Year” for the Kentucky State Police two years in a row.  This is an outstanding accomplishment and Post 8 is fortunate to have such great personnel.

KSP’s focus this year is to maintain and strengthen its essential workforce in order to better provide public safety, maintain critical services and better reflect the diverse communities that KSP serves. For more information about KSP’s commitment of 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.

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