New KSP Cadets Report For Training

FRANKFORT, Ky. (May. 12, 2019) – Seventy-four* recruits from throughout the Commonwealth and one other state reported to the Kentucky State Police Training Academy in Frankfort today to begin 25 weeks of training that will determine whether they have what it takes to join “The Thin Gray Line.” Their ranks are an encouraging sight to the law enforcement agency which has experienced several retirements recently.

Seventy-three of the cadets are male and one is female. One is Hispanic-Latino, one is American-Indian and one is African-American.

Twenty-one of the cadets have either a bachelor’s or associate’s degree. Twenty-seven will be pursuing Associate’s Degrees in General Occupational and Technical Studies from the Bluegrass Community and Technical College during the training, thanks to a legislative change in 2017.

Four have military experience.

Geographically, the cadets represent 42 counties throughout Kentucky. One is from Tennessee.

As part of their training, the cadets will complete more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study that include areas 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, land navigation, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.

“The training program is both mentally and physically challenging,” notes Captain Kyle Nall, commander of the KSP Academy. “Historically, at least 35 percent of the cadets do not finish the program.”

The class is tentatively scheduled to graduate on October 25, 2019.

Applicants interested in future cadet classes should download the KSP mobile app or visit www.kentuckystatepolice.org, click on the Career Opportunities, Recruitment Home and How to Become a Kentucky State Trooper links. Information on both sites includes an outline of the application process, a list of minimum requirements and disqualifications, a downloadable application form with a list of supporting documents required and a downloadable study guide for the written test.

If more information is needed after visiting the website, applicants can call toll-free 1-866-360-3165 during office hours from 8 am- 4:30 pm (ET) Monday through Friday or leave a message any other time.

*Since reporting at 1:00 p.m. today, there have been two resignations. Cadet Class 98 now stands at 72 members.