Home » Nearly 7,300 peace officers to receive first training incentive raise in 15 years

Nearly 7,300 peace officers to receive first training incentive raise in 15 years

Part of Gov. Bevin’s budget

RICHMOND, Ky. (May 5, 2016) — Nearly 7,300 Certified Peace Officers served by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training will receive their first training incentive raise in 15 years, as part of Gov. Matt Bevin’s budget.

“We have said consistently, that we are going to protect those who protect us,” said Bevin. “We are pleased that this final budget ends the practice of sweeping KLEPF funds. These dollars are for our law enforcement and that is exactly what they are going to be used for. We will use these funds not only to attract the best and the brightest, but also to ensure that we keep them.”

Funds were generated through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund, a 1.8 percent surcharge on casualty insurance premiums. About 70 percent of revenues raised from the surcharge are committed to KLEFPF and designated for the mandatory training of Kentucky law enforcement officers.

The fund also supports a training incentive stipend to certified Kentucky peace officers who complete annual, statutorily-mandated training requirements. Since 2001, officers have received $3,100 annually upon meeting these standards. Following Bevin’s budget signature, these officers will receive $4,000 annually.

DOCJT, the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association, Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police, Kentucky Fraternal Order of Police, Kentucky League of Cities and Kentucky Association of Counties formed a coalition to present a unified voice of support for these necessary changes, said Wayne Turner, Bellevue Police chief and KACP legislative chairman.

The budget also establishes equitability among the state’s law enforcement by including more than 200 certified Kentucky officers who meet the qualifications for inclusion in the KLEFPF training incentive, but have never been statutorily included to receive the stipend. This measure brings in officers from the Kentucky Horse Park mounted patrol officers, Kentucky Department of Parks rangers, Kentucky Department of Agriculture investigators, Kentucky Alcoholic Beverage Control investigators, Kentucky Department of Insurance investigators, Kentucky Attorney General’s Office investigators and school resource officers serving statewide.

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.