Kentucky State Police Post 9 Pikeville Welcomes New Troopers
Agency’s largest graduating class since 2014 is ready to serve and protect
PIKEVILLE, Ky. (March 27, 2022) — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced that 71 cadets have graduated the agency’s basic training academy and are now ready to report for duty across the commonwealth with a focus on creating a better and safer Kentucky. Of those, eleven new troopers have been assigned to Post 9 Pikeville.
Cadet Class 101 is the largest KSP basic training academy graduating class since 2014.
Cadets reported to the KSP training academy on Oct. 3, 2021 to embark upon 24-weeks of intense training to learn the job skills necessary to perform the duties of a state trooper to one day wear the badge of honor as they protect and serve all who live and visit Kentucky’s 120 counties.
KSP Post 9 Captain Randal Surber is excited to welcome new troopers to Pikeville. Captain Surber said, “I began my career at Post 9, so I know what a memorable moment this is for these new troopers as they report to post to begin their careers. Due to recruitment efforts, we have seen an increased amount of applicants from within our district. Eight of the eleven new troopers reporting to Post 9 are originally from the Post 9 district. I know all of these new troopers are excited to get to work and begin serving their community. ”
KSP Commissioner, Phillip Burnett Jr. said Cadet Class 101 should be proud of the work they accomplished at the KSP Training Academy, but to remember the real journey begins tomorrow.
“Tomorrow is symbolic in many ways. You will start your first day as a Kentucky State Trooper. Each of you will take this independent journey with humility, passion and a thirst to be better each day,” said Commissioner Phillip Burnett, Jr. “Your success rests upon your shoulders and what you have learned while at the academy.”
The KSP Training Academy provides cadets with best practices, the latest technology training and legal information to help make the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger and the nation more secure through exceptional law enforcement. The graduates of Cadet Class 101 received more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study in subjects such as constitutional law, juvenile and traffic law, use of force, weapons training, defensive tactics, first aid, high speed vehicle pursuit, criminal investigation, computer literacy, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, radio procedures, search and seizure, crash investigation, drug identification, traffic control, crowd control, armed robbery response, land navigation, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.
Upon graduation, new troopers have the opportunity to choose a post close to their home with KSP’s “Pick Three” program.
The Post 9 graduates of the 101st KSP Training Academy included: Zachary Burgess, Pikeville, Ky., Dylan Chapman, Red Fox, Ky., Brennan Eckart, Cecilia, Ky., Logan Hillerman, Pikeville, Ky., Hunter Kidd, Grethel, Ky., Michael McKinney, Harold, Ky., Terry Mounts, Pikeville, Ky., Joseph Slone, Pikeville, Ky., Timothy Smith, Canada, Ky., Nicholas Taylor, Pikeville, Ky., and Megan Thomas, Emmalena, Ky.
Twenty-five cadets earned their Associate’s Degrees in General Occupational and Technical Studies from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College during their 24-weeks at the training academy. These cadets benefited from new hiring guidelines established by state legislature in 2017. The Post 9 troopers who received their associate’s degree included Michael McKinney, Harold, Ky. and Timothy Smith, Canada, Ky. Through this revision, anyone who possesses a high school diploma or GED, and has three years of full-time work experience can apply for employment as a KSP Trooper and earn an associate’s degree during the training process.
For more information about career opportunities with KSP visit the website.
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