New dispatchers provide a lifeline to citizens and law enforcement officers
RICHMOND, Ky. (Sept. 30, 2026) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 24 dispatchers from across Kentucky graduated from the Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) Public Safety Dispatch Academy and are now ready to begin answering the call to aid both citizens and law enforcement officers of the commonwealth.
“Kentucky’s dispatchers and telecommunicators are an important lifeline for those facing some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” Gov. Beshear said. “Thank you for stepping up to serve your neighbors and make our commonwealth safer.”
Dispatch basic training is mandatory for any sworn or civilian employee who will dispatch law enforcement officers by radio at a Criminal Justice Information Systems agency. Graduates of the academy have successfully completed a highly structured and comprehensive curriculum to satisfy mandated training requirements. Over four weeks, the graduates of Class 174 received 164 hours of academy instruction to satisfy these requirements. Major training areas included identifying the role and responsibilities of the dispatcher, correct phone and radio procedures, handling emergency and nonemergency calls for service, using emergency medical dispatch protocols and using the state and national criminal databases.
“Completing your training at the academy is a significant accomplishment,” DOCJT Commissioner Mike Bosse said. “The knowledge and skills you’ve gained have given you a strong foundation for a rewarding career in the public safety dispatch profession. I’m proud of what you’ve accomplished and wish each of you continued success as you begin this next chapter.”
Class 174 graduates and their agencies are:
Kristy Auchter, Gallatin County Central Dispatch
Cameron Baker, Clay County 911
Bradyn Bowman, Clay County 911
Luke Cates, Henderson 911 Emergency Communications
Luke Claborn, Clinton County E-911
Lindsey Collins, Carlisle Police Department
Erin Downs, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office
Tori Gribbins, Lebanon Police Department
Robert Hall, Powell County Dispatch
Nathanael Haven, Bullitt County Sheriff’s Office
Jaclyn Humphrey, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
Bailey Kasitz, Shivley Police Department
Conner LaRrett, Winchester Police Department
Raechelle Mathieu, Marion-Crittenden County E-911
Eric McDuffie, Jefferson County Schools Police Department
Alexis Raugh, Lexington Enhanced 911
Mallory Scott, Frankfort Police Department
Stephanie Stephenson, Owensboro-Daviess Police Department
Tanner Syvarth, Winchester Police Department
Michael Vanhooser, Hardin County 911
Brennon Von Braun, Lexington Enhanced 911
Crystal Waters, Barren-Metcalfe ECC
Wyntre Wintz, Greenup County Public Safety
Chloe Wise, Lebanon Police Department
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 Kentucky State Police, each of which has an independent academy.
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 April, Team Kentucky broke ground on DOCJT’s new Madisonville campus. When completed, the $50 million project will house two buildings – a 42,800-square-foot classroom and administration building providing learning space, offices and recruit showers and changing areas, as well as a 30,625-square-foot high bay building, which will house an open training area, additional classroom space and gym equipment. The recently passed 2026-2028 state budget also allocates $13.1 million to construct a driving track at the new facility. The General Assembly did not include the full $64.8 million requested by the Governor in his executive budget proposal to construct both a driving track and an indoor firing range at the Madisonville facility.
Until completion of the Madisonville campus, the commonwealth is offering basic training in facilities provided by the Madisonville Police Department. As of August, 60 officers have graduated from the Western Kentucky Law Enforcement Training Facility.
The Governor continues to support law and champion law enforcement. The recently passed 2026-2028 state budget also includes funds to raise the annual law enforcement training stipend to $4,746 for full-time officers by 2028 – another all-time high.
Protecting the commonwealth’s schools are a top priority of Team Kentucky. In August, the Governor announced that 1,315 Kentucky public schools are following statutory safety requirements required by the School Safety and Resiliency Act and that the number of school resource officers protecting schools has increased more than 100% since he took office.
Since Gov. Beshear took office, fewer Kentuckians have returned to prison after their release. For two years in a row, recidivism rates in the commonwealth have decreased, meaning that nearly 70% of those released from state custody have not returned.
The 2025 Crime in Kentucky report, released in June, shows that, from 2024 to 2025, there was an overall decrease of 8.14% in reports of serious crime.
For four straight years, overdose deaths have decreased in Kentucky. In 2025, the commonwealth saw 22.9% fewer overdose deaths than the year prior.
In April 2025, Gov. Beshear officially opened the doors to the new law enforcement training facility named in honor of Jody Cash, who lost his life in the line of duty. The facility is designed for officers to learn intensive and specialized training that will support all of Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies.
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded more than $13 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.
In June 2022, Gov. Beshear announced the Military to Law Enforcement Program (M-2-LE), which 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 their branch of the armed forces while they undergo law enforcement training at DOCJT.
For more information about the work the Beshear-Coleman administration has done since taking office to build a safer New Kentucky Home, click here.
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