32 New Law Enforcement Officers Ready to Protect Their Communities
On April 17, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 32 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, protect and create a safer new Kentucky home.
“You have accomplished something truly remarkable in graduating from this academy and by answering the noble call to serve Kentucky as law enforcement officers,” Gov Beshear said. “You are the best of the best, and my wife and I are praying for you, your families and that you lead safe and fulfilling careers in service to our 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 556 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-Coleman administration has graduated 1,993 officers from the basic training academy. Today’s 32 graduating law enforcement officers will begin working with the 8,000 other officers of the commonwealth to create a commonwealth that is safer for all Kentuckians.
“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 Mike Bosse. “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 32 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 556 graduates and their agencies are:
Jaylen Adams
Barbourville Police Department
Cameron Arnold
Richmond Police Department
Gage Ashcraft
Independence Police Department
Jonathan Bayless
Falmouth Police Department
Johnathan Buchanan
Frankfort Police Department
Nathaniel Bunch
Scottsville Police Department
Caleb Burrows
Nicholasville Police Department
Brandon Clark
Vine Grove Police Department
Nathan Collins
Johnson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Logan Durst
Hopkinsville Police Department
Paul Faubion
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Caleb Hightchew
Florence Police Department
Garrett Huffman
Hopkinsville Police Department
Hannah Jacobs
Richmond Police Department
Seth Jessee
Murray Police Department
Tyler Johnson
Logan Co. Sheriff’s office
Michael Kelly
Ashland Police Department
Jacob Madden
Nicholasville Police Department
Michael McDonald
Mount Sterling Police Department
Nicolas Mitchum
Calloway Co. Sheriff’s Office
Trenton Mofield
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Tori Monson
Erlanger Police Department.
Alexander Montiel
Metcalfe Co. Sheriff’s Office
Luke Mudd
Washington Co. Sheriff’s Office
Jacob Murphy
Garrard Co. Sheriff’s Office
Kristopher Nunn
Metcalfe Co. Sheriff’s Office
Brian Owens
Jefferson Co. Sheriff’s Office
Floyd Patterson Jr.
Middlesboro Police Department
Steven Poynter
Cynthiana Police Department
Joseph Riley
Ashland Police Department
Jake Ward
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
Micah Wooldridge
Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife
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.
