DOCJT Public Safety Dispatch Academy Class 123 Graduates

Twenty-three law enforcement dispatchers graduated Friday, February 8, 2019, from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Safety Dispatch Academy. The graduates hail from communications centers across the state, and comprise DOCJT’s 123rd telecommunications academy class, which first began in 1999.

The students graduating from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy represent the successful completion of a highly structured and comprehensive curriculum. The five weeks of training consisted of 205 hours of academy instruction to satisfy mandated training requirements.

Major training areas included identifying the role and responsibilities of the dispatcher, correct phone and radio procedures, handling emergency and non-emergency calls for service, emergency medical dispatch protocols, and use of the state and national criminal databases.

This class included 12 trainees of distinction. To earn this recognition, a student must not fail any tested area, not receive any disciplinary action, earn an evaluation rating of acceptable in every observed category and score an average of 95 percent or higher on all academic tests. Students who achieve this distinction are given a special academy pin to wear on their uniforms.

Additionally, Maysville Police Dispatcher Beth Smith received the academic achievement award and Jill Terry, dispatcher for Campbell County Consolidated Dispatch, received the outstanding portfolio award.

Dispatch basic training is mandatory for any sworn or civilian employee who will dispatch law enforcement officers by radio at a Criminal Justice Information Systems agency. DOCJT also provides in-service and leadership training for Kentucky public safety dispatchers and law enforcement officers.

DOCJT is a state agency located on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. The agency 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.

Class 123 graduates and their agencies are:

Shannon D. Cain
London/Laurel County Communications Center
(Trainee of Distinction)

Wade Coffey
Greenup County E-911

Tristan N. Drake
Muhlenberg County 911

Monaca Rae Gales
Pendleton County E-911
(Trainee of Distinction)

Shelby Handshoe
Pikeville Police Department

Makenzi Cheyenne Hill
Jessamine County E-911
(Trainee of Distinction)

Samuel Dylan Hillard
Rockcastle County E-911

Miranda Holmes
University of Kentucky Police Department

Cassie L. McCandless
Cynthiana/Harrison County E-911
(Trainee of Distinction)

Mollie McGuire
Pikeville Police Department
(Trainee of Distinction)

Gary R. Newman
Winchester Police Department

Everett N. Penic
Nelson County E-911

Cody C. Scott
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
(Trainee of Distinction)

Lauren Shaffer
Owensboro-Daviess County Central Dispatch
(Trainee of Distinction)

Beth Smith
Maysville Police Department
(Trainee of Distinction)

Krystal M. Smith
Muhlenberg County 911
(Trainee of Distinction)

James Curtis Stephens
Hickman County Dispatch
Non-CJIS PSDA graduate
(Trainee of Distinction)

Mikayla Tabor
Hardin County E-911

Jill Terry
Campbell County Consolidated Dispatch

Kaitlyn Trussell
Carlisle Police Department
(Trainee of Distinction)

Montana Vanderkolk
Hopkinsville Police Department

Alexis Williams
Paintsville/Johnson County E-911
(Trainee of Distinction)

Julia Wirth
Harrodsburg Police Department