NKyTribune staff
Several Northern Kentuckians were among the twenty-six law enforcement officers from agencies across the state that graduated Thursday from basic training at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training.
Two officers from the Boone County Sheriff’s Office received special recognition.
Covington Police Officer Alexandra Birkley (shown with Chief Rob Nader, left and Captain Greg Jones), completed the 20 week basic officer’s academy today at the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond. Look for her on the streets next week. Photo courtesy of the Covington Police Department.
The graduates of Class 498 completed 20 weeks of training, which consisted of 800 hours of recruit-level instruction. Major training areas included law offenses and procedures, vehicle operations, firearms, investigations, first aid and CPR, patrol procedures, orientation for new law enforcement families and the mechanics of arrest, restraint and control.
Basic training is mandatory for Kentucky law enforcement officers to comply with the state’s Peace Officer Professional Standards Act of 1998. The Department of Criminal Justice Training provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police, airport police and others.
The agency also provides in-service and leadership training for Kentucky law enforcement officers and public safety dispatch training.
Marcus W. Harlow, was the Outstanding Performance Award for Physical Fitness recipient and Joseph E. Savelli was recognized as the Academic Achievement Award recipient, Recruit of Distinction. Both are with the Boone County Sheriff’s Office.
The Department of Criminal Justice Training 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 accreditation 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 498 graduates and their agencies are (Northern Kentucky officers in bold) :
Alexandra J. Birkley, Covington Police Department
Joseph H. Board, Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office (Coordinator’s Award recipient)
Tyler W. Bradley, Paducah Police Department
Marcus R. Burnett, Paducah Police Department
John B. Darland, Harrodsburg Police Department
Monica T. Dietz, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
James K. Duncan, Marion Police Department
Zachary O. Hardy, Hopkinsville Police Department
Marcus W. Harlow, Boone County Sheriff’s Office (Outstanding Performance Award for Physical Fitness recipient)
Evan R. Kenealy, Meade County Sheriff’s Office
Alexander M. Klei, Alexandria Police Department
John N. Lyons, Breckinridge County Sheriff’s Office
Ryan M. Mcgill, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
Brett A. Miller, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
Jimerson A. Montgomery, Hazard Police Department
Jordan H. Nicoll, Alexandria Police Department
Nicholas T. Paddon, Kenton County Police Department
Jimmy L. Perkins, Hazard Police Department
Christopher Robinson, Henderson Police Department (Recruit of Distinction)
Mathew J. Rue, Nicholasville Police Department
Joseph E. Savelli, Boone County Sheriff’s Office (Academic Achievement Award recipient, Recruit of Distinction)
Austin L. Short, Paris Police Department
Logan D. Starnes, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office
Elijah C. Stevens, Nicholasville Police Department (Most Improved Award for Physical Fitness and Defensive Tactics recipient)
Akio S. Tonge, Harrodsburg Police Department
Steven E. Willis, Nicholasville Police Department (Firearms Proficiency Award recipient)
