Gov. Beshear, Kentucky State Police Welcome Cadet Class 105 to Training Academy
83 cadets begin a career focused on enhancing public safety and service to all Kentuckians
FRANKFORT, Ky. (Nov. 10, 2024) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) welcomed 83 cadets to the training academy to begin their journey of becoming a state trooper dedicated to serving and protecting all Kentuckians.
“Thank you for accepting the challenge of creating a safer and better Kentucky for future generations by working to become a Kentucky State trooper,” Gov. Beshear said. “We wish all of you the best of luck as you go through the training academy to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to protect your communities, fellow officers and yourself. A career in law enforcement is noble, and we thank you for your service.”
Cadet Class 105 consists of 83 individuals beginning their law enforcement careers, including nine experienced officers from other agencies participating in KSP’s Law Enforcement Accelerated Program (LEAP), which enables seasoned officers to join the agency through a condensed training program.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. told the cadets that their time at the training academy would be their greatest challenge and triumph.
“You are embarking on a journey that will challenge you mentally and physically, but also one that will prepare you for something greater – the selfless act of service to our great commonwealth,” said Commissioner Burnett. “At times it will be difficult and demanding, and many times perilous, but it will also be rewarding, respectful and merciful.”
Cadet Class 105 will undergo an intensive 24-week training regimen, with over 1,000 hours of classroom and practical field study. Cadets will be trained in various critical topics, including constitutional law, juvenile and traffic laws, crisis response, criminal investigations and community relations. Specific training areas also cover weapons use, first aid, high-speed pursuits, crowd control, hazardous material handling and implicit bias education. For officers joining KSP through LEAP, their program offers an accelerated 13-week course based on a minimum of two years of prior law enforcement experience.
Cadets represent the following Kentucky counties: Allen, Anderson, Ballard, Barren, Bath, Boone, Boyle, Breathitt, Breckinridge, Christian, Clay, Crittenden, Daviess, Elliott, Fayette, Fleming, Floyd, Graves, Hardin, Harlan, Hart, Hopkins, Jefferson, Jessamine, Knott, Knox, Laurel, Letcher, Lincoln, Logan, Madison, Magoffin, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, McCreary, Menifee, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nelson, Ohio, Oldham, Pendleton, Perry, Pike, Pulaski, Rockcastle, Russell, Taylor, Trimble, Warren, Wayne and Whitley.
Cadets from out-of-state represent Tennessee, North Carolina, and Indiana.
“Today marks the beginning of a life-changing journey for these future troopers,” said KSP Academy Commander Captain Joey Vorbeck. “The training they’ll receive here will equip them not only with the technical skills but also the values of integrity, respect and accountability that are essential in modern day policing.”
The Beshear-Coleman administration has taken several steps to support law enforcement while creating safer communities.
In June, the Beshear-Coleman administration announced that 37 troopers graduated from the KSP training academy and were ready to serve the commonwealth, safeguard lives and property, assist their fellow Kentuckians in law enforcement and reduce crime. The next cadet class is slated to begin in November, and the academy received a record number of applications.
Gov. Beshear has also supported training for local law enforcement officers by raising the current training stipend to an all-time high, and the state supported the construction of a new training facility in Richmond.
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.
Last year, Gov. Beshear signed House Bill 380 expanding the eligibility of potential peace officers to include individuals who are not yet 21 but will reach this statutory requirement by the time certification is completed to help law enforcement agencies expand their workforce.
Also, as the Governor recommended in January 2022, $12.2 million was included in the state budget for KSP to purchase body cameras, which is the first time in the commonwealth’s history that funding has been allocated for this much-needed expense.
For more information about KSP’s commitment of creating a better Kentucky by making the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger and the nation more secure by providing exceptional law enforcement, click here.
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