DOCJT Public Safety Dispatch Academy Class 131 Graduates

Twenty-two law enforcement dispatchers graduated Thursday, March 25, 2020, from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.

The graduates hail from communications centers across the state, and comprise DOCJT’s 131st 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 four weeks of training consisted of 164 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.

Additionally, Danielle M. Oeffler, of Campbell County Dispatch, and Katherine V. Sofield, of the Bowling Green Police Department, tied for the academic achievement 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 131 graduates and their agencies are:

Travis R. Ashcraft
Winchester Police Department

Rebecca C. Bean
Hopkinsville Police Department

Kaitlyn M. Butler
Hancock County 911

Sheila M. Davis
Pendleton County Dispatch

Rachel A. Durham
Whitley County Communications Center

Heather M. Eden
Carter County 911

Rebecca Fraley
Montgomery County 911

Jennifer D. Franklin
Bowling Green Police Department

Kylie M. Gross
Kenton County Emergency Communications

Shalisa D. Hamilton
Owensboro Police Department

Rachel J. Hodge
Hardin County 911

Nicole L. Johnson
Warren County Sheriff’s Office

Jessica L. Jones
Winchester Police Department

Tonya M. Judy
Winchester Police Department

Kelsey A. Kinney
Elizabeth Town Police Department

Amanda Martin
Gallatin County Dispatch

Danielle M. Oeffler
Campbell County Dispatch
(Academic Achievement Award)

Terra L. Phillips
Oldham County Dispatch

Jackson G. Romines
Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Communications Center

Tabitha C. Skaggs
Elliott County 911

Katherine V. Sofield
Bowling Green Police Department
(Academic Achievement Award)

Kaleb M. White
Madisonville Police Department