39 New Law Enforcement Officers Ready to Protect Their Communities
On March 13, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 39 law enforcement officers from agencies across the commonwealth have graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy. These law enforcement officers now return home to serve and protect Kentucky and create safer communities.
“Congratulations for achieving the first step in your law enforcement career and obtaining the critical training necessary to perform your duties safely and effectively,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Your impact on the security and wellbeing of Kentucky families is immeasurable, and First Lady Britainy Beshear and I are grateful for what you do to protect us all.”
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 555 received more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over 20 weeks. Major training areas included 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.
Since December 2019, the Beshear-Coelman administrated has graduated 1,691 officers from the basic training academy. Today’s 39 graduating law enforcement officers will begin working with the commonwealth’s 8,000 other officers 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 during your time at the basic training academy,” DOCJT Commissioner Mike Bosse said. “I wish you success in your careers as you implement the training you’ve received to enhance public safety in your communities.”
The Beshear-Coleman administration is proud to welcome the 39 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 555 graduates and their agencies are:
Jason Blevins
Hartford Police Dept.
Stone Bolin
Russell Co. Sheriff’s Office
Nathaniel Burns
Rockcastle Co. Sheriff’s Office
Lukas Burress
Campbellsville Police Dept.
Gerald Bush
Pulaski Co. Sheriff’s Office
Tanner Chaney
Irvine Police Dept.
Austin Cloyd
London Police Dept.
Palmer Coomes
Shelby Co. Sheriff’s Office
Michael Corey
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Joseph Duffy
Elizabethtown Police Dept.
Clayton Dunaway
Edgewood Police Dept.
Jacob Eison
Princeton Police Dept.
Amin El Brahmi
Florence Police Dept.
Nicholas P. Elkins
University of KY Police Dept.
Gavin Gray
Elizabethtown Police Dept.
Benjamin Hargan
Elizabethtown Police Dept.
Brennan Jackson
London Police Dept.
Zackary Lewis
Grant Co. Sheriff’s Office
Arianna Luna
Hardin Co. Sheriff’s Office
Macey Martin
Elizabethtown Police Dept.
John McFadden
Fayette Co. Sheriff’s Office
Adam McKinney
Fayette Co. Sheriff’s Office
Bailey Pittman
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Heath Price
Webster Co. Sheriff’s Office
Cody Puckett
Elizabethtown Police Dept.
Layla Robinson
Florence Police Dept.
Chaz Roe
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Cody Rogers
Mayfield Police Dept.
Seth Singleton
Somerset Police Dept.
Deamarko Spalding
Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Terrold Stinnett
Leitchfield Police Dept.
Alex Thomas
Shively Police Dept.
Blake Thompson
Munfordville Police Dept.
Noah Tuke
Wilder Police Dept.
Douglas Tyler
Wilder Police Dept.
Logan Vonderbrink
Vanceburg Police Dept.
Andrey Voznyuk
Nicholasville Police Dept.
Emily Wall
Adair Co. Sheriff’s Dept.
Noel Williams
Georgetown Police Dept.
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.
On Feb. 28, the Beshear-Coleman administration welcomed the first basic training academy class to Western Kentucky. For the first time since basic training became mandatory in 1998, Kentucky is simultaneously offering training in two locations. The Department of Criminal Justice Training will train officers in a building provided by the Madisonville Police Department while Team Kentucky constructs a $50 million multipurpose training facility in Madisonville.
Since taking office, Gov. 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.
At the beginning of his second term, 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 with 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.
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.
