A Corbin Police Department dispatcher, a London/Laurel County dispatcher and a Bell County dispatcher were among the 30 dispatchers from across the state, who graduated recently from the Kentucky 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.
“Today you begin an admirable career in service to the commonwealth, serving as a lifeline to Kentuckians in some of their darkest times,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Thank you for answering the call to service and thank you for serving your communities like only you can.”
Corbin Police Department’s William Jacob Oliver, London/Laurel County Communication Center’s Benjamin N. Nunley, and Bell County Dispatch’s Jacob R. Bower were among the graduates.
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 163 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.
“In completing your training at the academy, you have accomplished something great,” said DOCJT Commissioner Mike Bosse. “Your training has laid a solid foundation for a rewarding career, and I wish you nothing but the best of luck.”
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.
DOCJT provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police and airport police throughout the state, only excluding Louisville Metro Police Department, Lexington Police Department, Bowling Green Police Department, Owensboro Police Department and the Kentucky State Police, which each have independent academies.
