The first certified female deputy to be sponsored by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department to graduate the police academy in the department’s history did so last Thursday in Frankfort.
Whitley County Sheriff’s Deputy Heather E. Lindsay (Rowe), Laurel County Sheriff’s Deputy Matthew J. Walker and Barbourville Police Department Officer Braden N. Isom were among the 38 law enforcement officers from agencies across the state, who graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy on Feb. 6.
“Please congratulate Heather on her outstanding accomplishment and welcome her home. Heather will now begin an eight-week field training program in Whitley County where she will continuing her training under the direct supervision of an experienced field training officer,” the sheriff’s department wrote in a release.
Lindsay noted in a social media post that Thursday was a “massive accomplishment” for her after 20 weeks of DOCJT training, 20 weeks away from her family, who supported her and encouraged her, and 20 weeks of learning from “some of the best instructors I could ask for.”
Lindsay said that she will forever be grateful to Sheriff Bill Elliotte, Major Tony Dingess, Lt. Stuart Bryant, Lt. David Lassiter and her husband, Deputy David Rowe, who saw her potential to serve Whitley County.
She added that she has come back to her community with a wealth of knowledge and she can’t wait to serve Whitley County.
“This is a massive accomplishment and now so many little girls in our community can see it’s possible to have dreams come true and now they have a role model to look up to proving it’s possible!” David Rowe posted on social media.
Gov. Andy Beshear told the graduates Thursday that the commonwealth is grateful to have public servants of their caliber.
“I congratulate you on your diligence and sacrifice to receive the highest level of training to be the best for your community, friends, family and state. Britainy and I are praying for you and your families,” Beshear said.
DOCJT is committed to providing officers with best practices, the latest technology training and legal information to protect the diverse communities they serve. The graduates of Class 554 received more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over 20 weeks. Major training areas include patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law, traffic and DUI, firearms, criminal investigations, cultural awareness, bias-related crimes and tactical responses to crisis situations.
The 38 graduating law enforcement officers are now ready to wear the badge along with the other 1,652 Kentuckians who have completed their basic training since December 2019. They will work together with the commonwealth’s 8,000 other officers to create a commonwealth that is safer for all Kentuckians now and into the future.
“During the past 20 weeks you have listened earnestly to the training and guidance from your class coordinator and instructors here at DOCJT,” said DOCJT Commissioner Mike Bosse. “I urge you to remember their instruction and commit the skills you take with you to heart. Their voices of experience will serve you well as you serve your community.”
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 the Kentucky State Police, each of which have independent academies.
