PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — A New Boston police officer and a Scioto County sheriff’s deputy were honored this week with the Knights of Columbus’ 12th annual “Blue Coat” Award, recognizing their service to the community.
UPDATE (Sept. 11, 10:37 a.m.): This story has been updated with additional information from the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
Officer Brandon Moore of the New Boston Police Department and Deputy Josh Lewis of the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office received the award Sept. 10 during a ceremony and banquet at Holy Redeemer Church in Portsmouth, according to Facebook posts from the New Boston Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office. Moore and Lewis were the only two recipients of the honor this year.
The award was presented by Portsmouth Council 741 of the Knights of Columbus, a fraternal Catholic organization dedicated to charity, unity and community service. Holy Redeemer Church, on Gallia Street in Portsmouth, is part of St. John Paul II Scioto Catholic Parish.
The Scioto County Sheriff’s Office thanked the Knights of Columbus council for its “generous support and recognition” of the county’s first responders and thanked the community members who turned out for the banquet, saying in a Facebook post that their support “means the world to those who answer the call every day.” The office described Lewis’ honor as recognition of “excellence among Scioto County’s First Responders.”
In its own social media post announcing the honor, the New Boston Police Department thanked the Knights of Columbus and Holy Redeemer for hosting the ceremony and congratulated both officers “for your dedication and service to our communities.”
The New Boston Police Department traces its history to 1906, when the village of New Boston incorporated and established its own police force. The department, which operates under the motto “Serving Since 1906,” maintains a roster of 12 full-time officers who patrol the roughly 2,300-resident village along the Ohio River, according to the department.
The information contained in this story was obtained from the New Boston Police Department and the Scioto County Sheriff’s Office.
