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Newport honors police awards, approves recruit appointment and two promotions
Summary
At a June 23 special meeting, the Newport Board of Commissioners presented awards to members of the Newport Police Department, named Sergeant Brian Waldorf Officer of the Year for 2025, and unanimously approved the appointment of recruit Ryan Stevens and promotions of Connor Blazer to sergeant and Adam Mavis to lieutenant.
The Newport Board of Commissioners on June 23 presented department awards to members of the Newport Police Department and approved several personnel moves.
Police leadership recognized Sergeant Brian Waldorf and officers Aaron McNeal, Trevor Rutberger, Connor Blazer and Patrick Reynolds with peer-voted honors. The Police Chief announced that Sergeant Brian Waldorf had been selected as the department’s Officer of the Year for 2025. "Some of our bi- biggest critics are ourselves. So, to actually get through the gauntlet of what your fellow officers think about you and how much they respect you is a big deal," the Police Chief said as he introduced the honorees.
The commission then took up Commissioners Order No. 51 to appoint Ryan Stevens as a police recruit effective June 23, 2026. The Police Chief described Stevens’s background, saying he "was born and raised in Northern Kentucky," competed in collegiate wrestling at West Virginia University Institute of Technology, and "later earned a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology from Eastern State or Eastern Kentucky University" (the transcript records ambiguity about the awarding institution). The commission moved, seconded and approved the appointment by unanimous roll call.
Commissioners also approved Commissioners Orders No. 52 and No. 53, promoting Connor Blazer to sergeant and Adam Mavis to lieutenant effective June 22, 2026. The Police Chief described the promotion process as highly competitive, noting that "about 15 to 20% of police officers make it to sergeant" and that "3 to 5% of all police officers make it to lieutenant and above." Both promotions passed by unanimous roll call.
The meeting recessed for about 10 minutes to allow families to take photographs of the promoted officers. The commission reconvened afterward and completed the remainder of its agenda.
The board did not provide further public-comment debate on personnel matters during the meeting. No objections or recorded no votes were noted on the personnel motions.
