30 New Law Enforcement Officers Ready To Protect Their Communities
On March 14, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 30 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.
“Thank you to our Kentuckians who have answered the call to public service,” Gov. Beshear said. “Your willingness to put yourself in front of danger does not go unnoticed. Our gratitude to you and your families is immense, and you are in our prayers for a safe, healthy and fulfilling career.”
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 546 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 the 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 resources at their disposal.
Today’s 30 graduating law enforcement officers are now ready to wear the badge along with the other 1,387 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 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 546 graduates and their agencies are:
Joseph Baggett
Somerset Police Dept.
Bryce Bays
Barbourville Police Dept.
Austin Begley
Boone County Sheriff’s Office
Jacob Blanchard
Beaver Dam Police Dept.
Brittney Brinson
Vine Grove Police Dept.
Brandon Brockman
Florence Police Dept.
Colby Burdine
Somerset Police Dept.
Matthew Campbell
Falmouth Police Dept.
Zachary Carrico
Harrodsburg Police Dept.
Cody Coldiron
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Shaun Crump
Maysville Police Dept.
Ryan Fox
Florence Police Dept.
Allison Garner
Paducah Police Dept.
Danny Gross
Hazard Police Dept.
Dustin Henson
Clay County Sheriff’s Office
Donald Hill
University of Kentucky Police Dept.
Lloyd Janes
Blue Grass Airport Public Safety
Christopher Little
Hopkinsville Police Dept.
Zachary Mallicoate
Somerset Police Dept.
Noah Miller
Beaver Dam Police Dept.
Nathan Nevels
Somerset Police Dept.
Jordan Ongoy
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Austin Price
Harrodsburg Police Dept.
Weston Riggs
Maysville Police Dept.
Joseph Smallwood
Florence Police Dept.
Rocky Smallwood
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Kyle Topping
Flatwoods Police Dept.
Tarico Tunstull
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Jonah Voelker
Meade County Sheriff’s Office
Dominic Witko
Boone 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 December 2023, the Governor announced his Forward, Together budget proposal, which will continue to boost public and officer safety. The proposed budget includes increasing the law enforcement training stipend yet again, improving the pension system for state and local law enforcement and grant funding for local law enforcement agencies to purchase body armor.
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded more than $10 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 August, the administration awarded $2.1 million in grant funding to enhance public safety, curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.
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.
