Graduates complete more than 800 hours of training to strengthen the safety of the commonwealth’s citizens
RICHMOND, Ky. (Feb. 6, 2025) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 38 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 will return home to serve and protect Kentucky and create safer communities.
“The commonwealth is grateful to have public servants of your caliber,” Gov. Beshear said. “I congratulate you on your diligence and sacrifice to receive the highest level of training to be the best for your community, friends, family and state. Britainy and I are praying for you and your families.”
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 554 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 1,652 officers from the basic training academy. Today’s 38 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.
“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 Commissioner Mike Bosse. “I urge you to remember their instruction and commit the skills you take with you to heart. Their voices of experience will serve you well as you serve your community.”
The Beshear-Coleman administration is proud to welcome the 38 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 554 graduates and their agencies are:
Jason A. Aabye, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Sebastian A. Adams, Louisville International Fire/Police Department
Andres E. Aguayo, University of Louisville Police Department
Jesse G. Allgeier, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
James W. Ashley, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
Hugh L. Atkinson, Shelbyville Police Department
Shannon M. Baker, Winchester Police Department
Adam T. Cantrell, Hillview Police Department
Colby A. Childers, Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office
Chase D. Conrad, Edmonton Police Department
Matthew W. Crisman, Paducah Police Department
Jordan E. Dagenhart, Shelbyville Police Department
Mason X. Early, Nicholasville Police Department
Jack R. Fields, Fort Thomas Police Department
Jackson W. Fletcher, Western Kentucky University Police Department
Nicholas Garvin, Princeton Police Department
Wayne T. Herolaga, Campbell County Police Department
James W. House, Brandenburg Police Department
Bryce A. Howell, Frankfort Police Department
Braden N. Isom, Barbourville Police Department
Jackson G. Johnston, Nicholasville Police Department
Isabella N. Liefer, Paducah Police Department
Heather E. Lindsay, Whitley County Sheriff’s Office
Glenn K. Luca, Radcliff Police Department
Steven M. Martin, Shepherdsville Police Department
David T. McKinney, Columbia Police Department
Junious J. McMillian, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Daniel C. Nunn, Edmonton Police Department
Timothy B. O’Keefe, Shepherdsville Police Department
Cole T. Rankin, Florence Police Department
Colton S. Riley, Glasgow Police Department
Brandon L. Simpson, University of Kentucky Police Department
Emily M. Taylor, Erlanger Police Department
Timothy B. Toombs, Winchester Police Department
Ernest C. VonAllmen, Shelby Police Department
Matthew J. Walker, Laurel County Sheriff’s Office
Dillon C. Webster, Pendleton County Sheriff’s Office
Stanley M. Zeornes, Edmonson County Sheriff’s Office
DOCJT provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police and airport police throughout the state, only excluding the Louisville Metro Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Bowling Green Police Department, Owensboro Police Department and the Kentucky State Police, each of which have independent academies.
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. 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 1 will begin in February 2025 with a class of 24 recruits who will attend basic training in a Madisonville nonresidential academy. The first phase is made possible because of robust partnerships with the city of Madisonville, which is providing facilities for the launch. Phase 2 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. 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 September, Gov. Beshear awarded more than $1.7 million in grant funding to Kentucky’s law enforcement, drug task forces and nonprofit organizations to purchase crucial 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.
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