27 New Law Enforcement Officers Ready to Protect Their Communities
On June 15, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 24 law enforcement officers from agencies across the state have graduated the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy. These law enforcement officers will now serve and protect the commonwealth to create safer communities.
“Congratulations to these men and women who have dedicated themselves to 20 weeks of extensive basic training,” said Gov. Beshear. “I ask the commonwealth to join me and First Lady Beshear in prayer for a safe and fulfilling career of service for these heroes.”
DOCJT is committed to providing officers with best practices, the latest technology training and legal information to protect the diverse communities they serve. The graduates of Class 539 received more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over 20 weeks. Major training areas include patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law, traffic and DUI, firearms, criminal investigations, cultural awareness, bias related crimes and tactical responses to crisis situations.
The everchanging nature of public safety and protection requires DOCJT to remain on the cutting edge of law enforcement training practices. This includes providing officers and recruits with latest technology training and legal information available to protect the diverse communities they serve. Advancements in training, facilities and instruction are made often, allowing DOCJT trainers and trainees to have the most possible resources at their disposal.
Today’s 27 graduating law enforcement officers are now ready to wear the badge of honor along with the other 1,169 Kentuckians who have completed their basic training since December 2019. They will work together to create a commonwealth that is safer for all Kentuckians now and into the future.
“I am proud of your commitment to learning the skills and knowledge presented in the Basic Training Academy and wish you success in implementing this training in your home communities,” said DOCJT Commissioner Nicolai Jilek. “You now carry with you the responsibility of serving with honor, integrity, fairness and transparency. Take this responsibility to heart and the people you protect will see how much you care.”
The Beshear-Coleman Administration is proud to welcome the 27 new law enforcement officers into the partnership of public safety. Along with all those currently serving in law enforcement, graduates will play key roles in the ongoing effort of making each of Kentucky’s communities safer.
Class 539 graduates and their agencies are:
Dustin Z. Allen
Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
James D. Biram III
Shelbyville Police Department
Michael N. Bishop
Manchester Police Department
Wesley L. Bolen
Hazard Police Department
Lucas S. Brown
Anderson County Sheriff’s Office
William T. Chesser
Shelbyville Police Department
Coy T. Dotson
Paducah Police Department
Tucker E. Gertler
Lebanon Police Department
Randall T. Grant
Berea Police Department
James B. Grimes
Laurel County Police Department
Shane T. Harvey
Richmond Police Department
Logan M. Hatter
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Garret M. Lawson
Clay City Police Department
Jacob L. Ledbetter
Henderson County Sheriff’s Office
Josiah B. McFarland
Berea Police Department
Lane T. Owen
Berea Police Department
Griffin E. Pfisterer
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Jacob G. Pritchett
Guthrie Police Department
Andrew D. Prusaczyk
Paducah Police Department
Hunter D. Richardson
Madison County Sheriff’s Office
Patrick L. Ryan
Richmond Police Department
Morgan R. Shaffer
Hopkinsville Police Department
Olivia A. Spaulding
Lebanon Police Department
Brian L. Tennyson
Hart County Sheriff’s Office
James M. Treadway
Kenton County Police Department
Patrick D. Wade
Glasgow Police Department
Austyn H. Weddle
Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
DOCJT provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police, airport police throughout the state, only excluding Louisville Metro Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Bowling Green Police Department and the Kentucky State Police, which each have independent academies.
DOCJT is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is seeking public input regarding DOCJT’s compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. Click here to submit comments.
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.
In March, Gov. Beshear signed three pieces of legislation that support law enforcement and increase public safety. Senate Bill 89 allows reemployment of retired individuals as police officers from the Police and Fire Retirement Fund; House Bill 380 expands the eligibility of potential peace officers to include individuals who are not yet 21 years of age but will reach this statutory requirement by the time certification is completed; and House Bill 540 increases the number of peace officers in the commonwealth’s private and parochial schools as well as public schools creating consistency of expectations across different types of schools. Due to this bipartisan effort, Kentucky is now able to increase recruitment of peace officers throughout the commonwealth and create a safe learning environment for all students to thrive, grow and reach their dreams.
To further increase the safety of Kentucky’s children the Governor signed legislation that strengthens child abuse, neglect and human trafficking reporting requirements, clarifies the legal definition of incest and ensures that registered sex offenders cannot come within 1,000 feet of a high school, middle school, elementary school, preschool, publicly owned or leased playground, or licensed day care facility.
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.
The bipartisan state budget signed by Gov. Beshear and enacted last year allows the commonwealth to take additional steps to make Kentucky a leader in public safety by enhancing law enforcement training, creating safer communities and improving the safety of both law enforcement officers and Kentuckians. In July 2022, the Governor announced additional steps to enhance public and officer safety, including funding for a new firearms training facility, a Western Kentucky training site feasibility study and an increased training stipend for law enforcement officers.
In October 2022, the administration took another step forward in creating safer communities by awarding more than $350,000 in grant funding to prevent youth crime across the commonwealth.
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.
During the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Beshear championed legislative action like Senate Bill 64 and House Bill 254, making it easier for law enforcement to conduct undercover stings and increase the chances of stopping a horrific crime against a child from being facilitated through the internet. These actions will also provide law enforcement officers with the authority to charge offenders with harsher crimes to keep them away from the public, preventing further interactions with Kentucky’s most vulnerable population.
