Kentucky State Police Post 14 Welcome New Troopers to Enhance Public Safety throughout the Commonwealth

ASHLAND, Ky. (November 22, 2022) — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced that 38 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.

Cadets reported to the KSP training academy on June 5, 2022 to embark upon 24-weeks of intense training to learn the job skills necessary to perform the duties of a state trooper. Graduating cadets pledged to uphold the mission of KSP by promoting public safety through service, integrity and professionalism using partnerships to prevent, reduce and deter crime and the fear of crime, enhance highway safety through education and enforcement, safeguard property and protect individual rights.

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 102 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, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.

KSP Post 14 Captain James Goble is excited to welcome the new troopers to Ashland. Captain Goble said, “I am excited to welcome six new troopers to Post 14 Ashland.  Their arrival will supplement our current staff, allowing us to be more proactive in terms of highway safety and shorten our response times to calls for service.  Our community will be safer as a result of these newly acquired troopers.”

The Post 14 graduates of the 102^nd KSP Training Academy included: Chase Coverdale, Louisa, Ky., Brett Criswell, Louisa, Ky., Colton Cross, Canada, Ky., Christin Mitchell, Prestonsburg, Ky., Jordan Sammons, Belfry, Ky., and Zachary Wright, Louisa, Ky.

Additionally, the honor of Salutatorian was awarded to Trooper Jordan Sammons.

Thirteen cadets earned their associate degree 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 the new hiring guidelines established by the state legislature in 2017.