RICHMOND, Ky. – Law enforcement dispatchers from 13 communications centers across the state graduated Friday from the Public Safety Dispatch Academy at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.
The 20 dispatchers comprised DOCJT’s 100th telecommunications academy class since its inception in 1999. The academy graduates’ five weeks of training consisted of 205 hours of academy instruction to satisfy mandated training requirements. Major training areas included identifying the role and responsibilities of the dispatcher, correct phone and radio procedures, handling emergency and non-emergency calls for service, emergency medical dispatch protocols and use of the state and national criminal databases.
Dispatch personnel basic training is mandatory for any sworn or civilian employees who are employed to dispatch law enforcement by means of radio communications on a full-time basis at a Criminal Justice Information Systems, or CJIS, agency.
Public Safety Dispatch Class No. 100 graduated nine trainees of distinction. In order to be a trainee of distinction, graduates must have a GPA of 95 or above, no failures or retests and no disciplinary action above a verbal warning.
Patricia Carter, former DOCJT Telecommunications Branch manager, served as guest speaker. Carter was the vision and drive behind the original telecommunications academy, and her tenacity led to mandated training for Kentucky’s dispatch personnel. Carter was passionate about promoting the job of a dispatcher into a career to be admired and respected and one in which to be proud. She stood by the philosophy that unless dispatchers were effectively trained, each agency would be endangering their responders.
Bluegrass 911 Central Communications Dispatcher James B. Hughes served as class speaker
DOCJT also provides in-service and leadership training for Kentucky public safety dispatchers and law enforcement officers.
DOCJT is a state agency located on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus. 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 also earned accredited through the International Association for Continuing Education and Training in 2013 – making it the nation’s only law enforcement training academy to achieve dual accreditation by two independent accrediting organizations.
Class 100** graduates and their agencies are:
*Emily D. Burns, Madison County E-911
*Ashley Nicole Candea, Todd County Dispatch
Michael Andrew Couch, Barren/Metcalfe County 911
Jennifer Duff, Lexington Enhanced 911
Carissa D. Evans, Boyd County PSCC 911
*Britaney R. Fleming, Lexington Enhanced 911
*James B. Hughes, Bluegrass 911 Central Communications
Jonathan Jackson, Clay County 911
Amber M. Lanford, Hardin County E-911
Bethany McFadden, Lexington Enhanced 911
Tiawana D. Morris, Jefferson County Public Schools Police Department
*Sarah Mullen, Campbell County Dispatch
Donnie Salmons, Lexington Enhanced 911
Tyler A. Shaw, Western Kentucky University Police Department
*Hannah Spicer, Boyd County 911
*Samuel J. Spille, Kenton County Emergency Communications
Crystal Jenice Westerfield, Muhlenberg County 911
*Sara Lynn Whitson, Hopkinsville Police Department
Amanda Renee Youle, Lexington Enhanced 911
*Jennifer Youngworth, Lexington Enhanced 911
*Denotes Trainees of Distinction