Gov. Beshear, Department of Criminal Justice Training Announce 21 Officers Graduate from the Kentucky Criminalistic Academy – Crime Scene Technician Course

Oct 13

Oct 13 Gov. Beshear, Department of Criminal Justice Training Announce 21 Officers Graduate from the Kentucky Criminalistic Academy – Crime Scene Technician Course

On October 13, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) announced that crime scene investigators (CSIs) from across the commonwealth have graduated from the 2023 Kentucky Criminalistics Academy (KCA) Crime Scene Technician Course Class 7.

“Thank you for your continued efforts to make yourselves better law enforcement officers,” Gov. Beshear said. “The skills you’ve learned through this course will not only benefit you and your agencies, but they will also benefit the communities throughout the commonwealth.”

KCA is made up of two, five-week, 200-hour courses that DOCJT instructors developed for full-time and newly appointed CSIs and patrol officers who serve as CSIs for their agencies. In addition to sworn officers, the KCA is open to civilian CSIs who work for law enforcement agencies.

“The completion of the crime-scene investigation academy shows that you have the dedication to make our citizens safer,” DOCJT Commissioner Nicolai Jilek said. “Take what you’ve learned and return to your agencies knowing that you will make a difference in people’s lives. I wish you nothing but continued success in your careers.”

The entire KCA certification includes training in:

Digital photography
Advanced latent print development
Evidence collection and documentation
Latent fingerprint recognition and identification
Shooting scene reconstruction
Bloodstain pattern recognition and documentation
Post blast investigation
Forensic mapping
Computer crimes investigations
Forensic anthropological recovery course (University of Tennessee)

The KCA Class No. 7 graduates and their agencies are:

Tristan Alexander
Bowling Green Police Department

Robert Chinn
Lexington Police Department

Elizabeth M. Connor
Hopkinsville Police Department

Michael C. Cook
Kentucky State Police

Brandy Craig
Elizabethtown Police Department

Jacob Daley
Campbell County Police Department

Lisa Dollins
Danville Police Department

Chester P. Haynie
Madisonville Police Department

Basil R. Hodge
Corbin Police Department

Eric M. Homan
Ashland Police Department

Dwayne Lane
Marshall County Sheriff’s Office

Robert R. Loudermilk
Kentucky State Police

Travis Myers
Jessamine County Sheriff’s Office

Haley H. Ransler
Florence Police Department

Justin Swope
Murray Police Department

Bryan Thomas Velotta
Owensboro Police Department

David Weatherholt
Henderson Police Department

Casey A. Whittle
Versailles Police Department

Kevin Wilson
Paducah Police Department

Robert O. Workman
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Joshua Zebell
Newport Police Department

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 re-accreditation through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training in 2018.

Beshear-Coleman Administration Commitment to Making Kentucky a National Leader in Public Safety

The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The Governor's public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky now and into the future.

Gov. Beshear has unveiled part of the administration’s upcoming budget plan to further protect law enforcement officers while making Kentucky a leader in public safety. The administration’s proposed budget includes an additional raise for state police troopers and officers, increased training stipend and an improved pension system for local and state law enforcement and funding for local law enforcement to purchase body armor.

In July, Gov. Beshear broke ground in Richmond on a new law enforcement training facility named in honor of Jody Cash, who lost his life in the line of duty May 16, 2022, while serving as chief deputy of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office. Members of the Cash family, as well as state and local officials and staff from the Department of Criminal Justice Training, joined the Governor in taking a step forward to enhance the safety of Kentucky’s nearly 8,000 peace officers who risk their lives every day to protect Kentucky families.

Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded almost $8 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in purchasing the tools and resources that will not only allow them to protect Kentucky communities but will also ensure their safety as they stand on the front lines every day. In September 2022, the administration announced nearly $2 million in grant funding to enhance public safety, curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.

In June 2022, Gov. Beshear announced the Military to Law Enforcement Program (M-2-LE). M-2-LE allows local law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to hire active service members within all U.S. military branches during their last 180 days of service. Upon being contracted by a law enforcement agency, the military member will continue to receive their pay and benefits from the U.S. Military while they undergo law enforcement training at the Department of Criminal Justice Training.