Laying a Strong Foundation

I come to the Department of Criminal Justice Training honored and humbled.

DOCJT Commissioner Alex Payne

I am honored to be following in the footsteps of a mentor and close personal friend, former Commissioner Mark Filburn. I am humbled to have been chosen to lead an organization full of quality personnel who are as dedicated to the men and women who serve the Commonwealth as any I have ever seen.

Blessed is the word that comes to mind when I reflect over my career. The good Lord has truly watched over me, and to Him any and all credit is due.

I am truly excited for what the future holds for DOCJT, the people who comprise this agency and for law enforcement in Kentucky. It is my job, and the job of my staff, to create an environment where people are willing to invest themselves in our combined future. This will be accomplished by encouraging DOCJT staff to not only initiate new ideas, but also paths to implement the ideas that will help move Kentucky law enforcement forward.

I can think of nothing more enjoyable as a supervisor than to stand in front of a group of people telling them the great ideas and plans our people have brought forth. It means our people have skin in the game. It means our people care about the pride and quality of DOCJT’s reputation. Bottom line, our people want Kentucky law enforcement to succeed and thrive.

I will work each and every day to create and maintain a place where people will enjoy coming to work and taking on the challenge of producing the best law enforcement servants the Commonwealth has to offer.

DOCJT should never be about any one person, but instead, should reflect the combined efforts of many good people. A reflection is a mirror image, and that image is what DOCJT sends across the state in the form of our recruits. When our recruits leave here, they will have learned the meaning of teamwork and how important it is to honor your commitments. We will provide a strong foundation from which officers can continue to build upon throughout their careers.

The future safety and security of our cities and towns rests with these recruits as they choose to be the standard bearers of the next generation. With the dedicated staff here at DOCJT, I remain confident of their preparation for the tasks ahead of them.

I look forward to working with our law enforcement community. May God bless each of you and your families.