MOUNT VERNON — Josh Neely didn’t grow up dead-set on becoming a police officer.
The Knox County native graduated from East Knox High School in 2009 and went straight into manufacturing, working 10 years for FT Precision in Fredericktown before spending six months at Next Generation Films in Lexington.
But a conversation with a hunting buddy (who also happened to be a state highway patrolman) changed that. And on Tuesday, roughly three years later, here Neely was – receiving the Mount Vernon Police Department’s highest honor for his work in 2022.
Neely, 32, was named Officer of the Year by his peers. Chief Robert Morgan and Mayor Matt Starr presented the third-year night-shift patrolman with a plaque during a brief evening ceremony, which was well-attended by his family members and fellow officers.
“It’s awesome. I like these guys,” Neely said of his brothers and sisters in blue. “I mean, they’re the ones who make me enjoy coming to work.”
The MVPD hired Neely in May 2020, after he graduated from the police academy and served brief stints in Danville and Millersburg. Morgan said he’s been a positive force ever since, working well with his teammates and the community.
“Josh is just a good, solid police officer. He goes out there, he’s energetic about his job. … He’s well-liked. He’s a good kid,” Morgan said. “He’s a good hometown kid that has wanted to be a police officer, and he comes to work every day and he does a good job for us. He’s passionate about what he does.”
Neely has been particularly effective at catching drunk drivers. He led the department in OVI arrests in 2022 and was one of 31 officers statewide to receive the MADD Award of Excellence from the non-profit organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
“That’s one of the things that he puts himself out there for. …” Morgan said. “He (also) handles everything from barking dogs to domestic violence calls. I mean, he’s a very well-rounded officer.”
Neely said his passion for catching drunk drivers stems from a larger incentive to protect the community.
“It’s really just about knowing I’m making a difference. … That’s what I really enjoy,” said Neely, one of 30 full-time officers currently serving in the MVPD. “It’s kind of a safety aspect. We’ve had several fatal crashes inside the city involving drunk drivers, and it’s just about making a difference (on that front).”
Morgan called Neely’s honor significant because of the way it was determined.
“This is picked by their peers. It’s not picked by me or the mayor,” Morgan said proudly. “We don’t have any say in this. These guys pick their own Officer of the Year.”
Starr congratulated Neely on the honor and reflected on the importance of celebrating successes like this at the local level.
“I remember swearing you in and it’s nice to see you just embrace the job and embrace the family and the brothers and sisters that you have here, and having the community’s back,” Starr told Neely during the presentation.
“I know you all say that you don’t do this for the awards. I know that you’re humble; I appreciate that. But again, this is great for the city and the citizens to know (about). These are the successes that they are expecting. And it’s comforting. And so while it isn’t about you, it is about them. So, thank you for letting the citizens share in (your) success this year.”
