Gov. Beshear, Department of Criminal Justice Training Announce 24 Officers Graduate from the Academy of Police Supervision

Leadership program focused on developing, shaping future, current leaders in law enforcement

RICHMOND, Ky. (May 24, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) announced that 24 law enforcement officers from agencies across the commonwealth graduated the Academy of Police Supervision (APS) Class 97. APS, also called the sergeant’s academy, is a three-week, 122-hour training program targeted for newly promoted sergeants or officers who are on their agency’s promotion list to become sergeants.

“When our law enforcement officers improve their skills and leadership, they help make our Kentucky families safer,” Gov. Beshear said. “I commend today’s graduates on accepting this challenge and look forward to the good work these heroes will do in their communities.”

APS was launched in 2003 as one of DOCJT’s illustrious leadership courses aimed at developing and shaping future and current leaders in law enforcement agencies across the commonwealth. The training program is a deep dive into how to positively influence groups of people, as well as how to apply situational leadership, demonstrate an understanding of constitutional and administrative law, emotional and social intelligence, ethical decision making, problem solving, emotional survival and public speaking.

“APS Class 97 represents law enforcement agencies from every corner of the state and a variety of law enforcement types,” said DOCJT Commissioner Nicolai Jilek. “I’m proud to congratulate these leaders on earning their APS pin and encourage them to lead purposefully.”

DOCJT is a state agency located on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. The agency is the first in the nation to be accredited under the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies’ public safety training program designation.

APS Class 97 graduates and their agencies are:

Steven J. Barrish, Georgetown Police Department

Marc Taylor Boggs, Madisonville Police Department

Ray E. Caudill II, Fayette County Sheriff’s Office

Zachary J. Chitwood, Scott County Sheriff’s Office

Adam J. Davis, Campbellsville Police Department

Troy Doss, Calloway County Sheriff’s Office

Tavis D. Elzy, Shelbyville Police Department

Jason Gannone, Frankfort Police Department

Mark Gardner, Georgetown Police Department

Andrea Haire, Elizabethtown Police Department

Logan Hampton, Benton Police Department

Lucas Hardy, Owensboro Police Department

Terry W. Harmon, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office

Bryan Hill, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Ethan Horne, Madisonville Police Department

Christopher Hull, Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Michael Lyon, Bellevue Police Department

Jeffry M. Nagy, Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Robert Owens, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Ankit Patel, Richmond Police Department

Jared D. Ramsey, Daviess County Sheriff’s Office

Marc Spalding, Shively Police Department

Anthony Theetge, Boone County Sheriff’s Office

Rachel White, Covington Police Department

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 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.

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.

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