Deputy State Police Commissioner to Helm DOCJT
Kentucky Justice Secretary John Tilley announced that William Alexander Payne, the deputy commissioner for Kentucky State Police (KSP) and one of the state’s most respected leaders in law enforcement, has been appointed as the new commissioner for the Department of Criminal Justice Training.
Payne joins the department with more than 30 years of experience in policing, training and operations, including 20 years at KSP. For the past two years, he has served as second-in-command for state police, overseeing administrative policy and operational services.
“Alex was an obvious choice for his exceptional leadership abilities and his invaluable experience in law enforcement,” Secretary Tilley said. “He is deeply committed to both the needs and safety of police officers and to the advancement of the profession. We are fortunate to have him.”
Before joining KSP in 2016, Payne served as patrol commander and special operations group commander for Jeffersontown Police. His credentials include expert training in special operations, defensive tactics, firearms and active shooter prevention. Payne has shared those skills as a training instructor for military units and law enforcement agencies across the nation, including for police departments in New York City, Chicago and Washington D.C.
Payne also served with KSP from 1985 to 2004, starting as a road trooper at Post 9 in Pikeville. He was an original member of the full-time KSP Special Response Team that began in 1989, and he worked as a sergeant and staff instructor at the KSP Academy.
“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of former Commissioner Mark Filburn to ensure the best possible training for all of the dedicated men and women across the Commonwealth of Kentucky,” Payne said. “I look forward to the challenge of improving upon the training opportunities that are currently offered and creating new ones.”
Former Commissioner Filburn resigned last month to take a position with the Kentucky League of Cities. During his time at the department, he led an overhaul of administrative policy and was instrumental in several key initiatives to improve officer safety. That included the Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminar and better access to training in diminishable skills such as driving and shooting.
“Mark, at great personal sacrifice, exemplified incredible commitment to both the department and those serving in law enforcement,” Secretary Tilley said. “He served as an unwavering advocate for officer safety and training, and we appreciate his work.”
Located on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, the Department of Criminal Justice Training provides entry-level and professional-development training for law enforcement officers across Kentucky.
The department is the first in the nation to be accredited under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ public safety training program designation. DOCJT also earned accreditation through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training in 2013 – making it the nation’s only law enforcement training academy to achieve dual accreditation by two independent accrediting organizations.
