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Newest Class of Trooper Recruits Begin Training

Newest Class of Trooper Recruits Begin Training
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By West Kentucky Star Staff
May. 24, 2015 | FRANKFORT, KY
By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 24, 2015 | 02:56 PM | FRANKFORT, KY
Sixty-four recruits from throughout the Commonwealth and five other states reported to the Kentucky State Police Academy in Frankfort Sunday to begin 23 weeks of training that will determine whether they have what it takes to join “The Thin Gray Line.” The first day’s activities included a variety of physical fitness tests such as weight lifting, sit-ups, push-ups, a 300 meter run and a 1-1/2 mile run.
 
“Although we have used this facility for training classes during the past several years, this will be the first group of cadets to both live and train on the site,” says KSP Commissioner Rodney Brewer. “This will boost the effectiveness and efficiency of our training by providing a more focused environment with fewer distractions.”
 
For the past 32 years, the KSP Academy has been located on the top floor of the agency’s headquarters located at 919 Versailles Road in Frankfort, a converted hotel building. It was in a high-traffic area, provided no room for growth and required cadets to travel off site for some activities. The new facility will allow for a more centralized approach with less travel time and expense.
 
“During the past three years we have refurbished this facility using both internal and external resources,” says KSP Capt. David Jude, commander of the academy. “We now have a modern academy in a secluded area where cadets can train indoors year around.”
 
During the 23-weeks of training, the cadets will complete more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study that includes 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.
 
“The cadets will have to prove themselves daily to earn the right to wear the badge and uniform of a Kentucky State Trooper,” says Jude.
 
“Not all of the recruits will complete the training course,” he adds. “Historically, 35 percent of the cadets do not complete the program.”
 
Nineteen of the cadets have bachelor’s degrees and seven have associate’s degrees. Eighteen have military experience and seven have previous law enforcement experience.
 
Geographically, the cadets represent 44 communities throughout Kentucky. Four are from Richmond. Campbellsville, Prestonsburg and Williamsburg are represented by three cadets each. Corbin, Hazard and London are represented by two cadets each.
 
The following Kentucky communities are each represented by one cadet: Adolphus, Argillite, Barbourville, Bardstown, Benton, Berea, Brandenburg, Central City, Dana, Danville, Dry Ridge, Elizabethtown, Fisherville, Franklin, Georgetown, Greensburg, Harlan, Hazard, Inez, Jackson, Kevil, Leitchfield, Lexington, McKee, Middlesboro, Morehead, Monticello, Mt. Washington, New Castle, Nicholasville, Paint Lick, Pikeville, Pippa Passes, Raccoon, Russell Springs, Somerset, Topmost and Whitley City.
 
Three cadets are from Tennessee.One is from Illinois, one from Indiana, one from Michigan and one from Ohio.
 
The class is tentatively scheduled to graduate on Oct. 30, 2015.
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