30 New Law Enforcement Officers Ready To Protect Their Communities
On October 3, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 30 law enforcement officers from agencies across the state have graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy. These law enforcement officers now will return home to serve and protect the commonwealth and create safer communities.
“The commonwealth is fortunate to have public servants of your caliber, and we are eternally grateful that you answered the call to create safer communities,” said Gov. Beshear. “We will be praying for your safe return home daily and will continue to advocate for crucial resources and funding to help protect you, while you protect the commonwealth.”
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 551 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.
Today’s 30 graduating law enforcement officers are now ready to wear the badge along with the other 1,553 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.
“During the past 20 weeks you have listened earnestly to the training and guidance from your class coordinator and instructors here at DOCJT,” said DOCJT Deputy Commissioner Mike Bosse. “I urge you to remember your instruction and commit to the skills taught as you serve your community.”
The Beshear-Coleman administration is proud to welcome the 30 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 to make each of Kentucky’s communities safer
Class 551 graduates and their agencies are:
Patrick S. Bawkin Jr.
Lebanon Police Department
Ashton Bell
Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Gavin M. Davis
Scott County Sheriff’s Office
Steven K. Grant Sr.
Hodgenville Police Department
Keeghan T. Harrell
Frankfort Police Department
Michael B. Hodgkiss
Greenville Police Department
Jesse. R. Howard
Harlan County Sheriff’s Office
Bradyn Hunter
Pikeville Police Department
Casey A. Kendrick
Pikeville Police Department
Austin E. Kuehn
Kenton County Police Department
Matthew D. Leach
Whitley County Sheriff’s Office
Chelsea P. Little
Park Hills Police Department
William K. Lundy
Shively Police Department
Bradley A. Mulberry
Kenton County Police Department
J. Tyler Mullins
Pikeville Police Department
James B. Noble
Georgetown Police Department
Seth R. Owen
Union County Sheriff’s Office
Spence Parsons
Warren County Sheriff’s Office
Kaleb J.D. Phipps
Stanford Police Department
Thomas M. Polly
Richmond Police Department
Jacob T. Purvis
Owingsville Police Department
Jonathan V. Ray
Pikeville Police Department
Devin Richardson
Hillview Police Department
Dustin R. Rollins
Richmond Police Department
Noah William Stevens
Somerset Police Department
Kyle C. Thomas
Scott County Sheriff’s Office
Lucas G. Van Dyke
Scott County Sheriff’s Office
Christopher L. Wedding
Shively Police Department
Andrew H. Whitworth
Livingston County Sheriff’s Office
Derek Q. Wu
Scott 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.
In September, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the historic expansion of law enforcement basic training into Western Kentucky. The Department of Criminal Justice Training is launching a two-phase project to provide immediate, improved access to law enforcement training. Phase one will begin in February 2025 with a class of 24 recruits who will attend Basic Training in a Madisonville non-residential academy. The first phase is made possible because of robust partnerships with the city of Madisonville, which is providing facilities for the phase-one launch. Phase two includes the construction of administrative classroom and multipurpose training buildings funded by the $50 million legislative allotment to construct a Western Kentucky DOCJT campus.
Since taking office, Gov. Andy Beshear has awarded nearly $12 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies with enhancing public and officer safety, curbing the sale of illegal drugs and fighting addiction. As the administration remains committed to removing illicit drugs and further decreasing drug overdose deaths, in Sept. Gov. Beshear awarded more than $1.7 million in grant funding to Kentucky’s law enforcement, drug task forces and nonprofit organizations to purchase critical resources, provide drug prevention programming to community residents, offer counseling to crime victims, ensure officers receive specialized training and work with individuals leaving incarceration for successful reentry skills.
Last year, the Governor proposed a $500 increase to the law enforcement annual training stipend, but the General Assembly chose to provide a combined $262 increase over the next two years. The budget signed by the Governor raises the training stipend to an all-time high of $4,562 by fiscal year 2026. Additionally, the Governor is providing part-time law enforcement officers an annual training stipend for the first time in the history of the commonwealth.
In July 2023, 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 Department. Members of the Cash family, as well as state and local officials and staff from the DOCJT, 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.
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.
