RICHMOND - Law enforcement officers from 15 agencies in the commonwealth were recognized today for completing the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Academy of Police Supervision.

The officers graduated from the agency’s 20th APS class. Chief Mike Ward of the Alexandria Police Department was the guest speaker.  The APS, also called the sergeant’s academy, is a three-week (120-hour) training program for newly promoted sergeants or officers who are on their agency’s promotion list.

While in the course, students participate in classes focusing on the role of a supervisor, as well as leadership, resolving conflict, managing diversity, monitoring officer performance, professional image, legal issues for supervisors, ethics, interpersonal communication, effective written communication, making decisions, solving problems, managing critical incidents, public speaking, emotional survival, budgeting, media relations and others.

The program includes reading and writing assignments and scenario-based exercises designed to enhance the students’ ability to perform at the supervisor’s level in their agencies. APS is hands-on, with as much skill demonstration as classroom work.

The APS is a stepping stone to the Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Criminal Justice Executive Development program, which is a five-week advanced leadership course offered once a year for supervisors at Kentucky’s small and medium-size law enforcement agencies. Potential CJED students must rank sergeant or above and be selected by a committee to take part in the course.

The first APS class graduated in June 2003.

APS 20 graduates and their agencies are:

Brandon Collins, Eastern Kentucky University Police Department

Christopher Ernst, Covington Police Department

Jack C. Holland, Leitchfield Police Department

Wallace E. Hyden, Jr., Alexandria Police Department

Ike M. Lambert, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Police Department

Mark McCuiston, Murray Police Department

Jared Muse, Maysville Police Department

Jon Noel, Georgetown Police Department

Daryl Noffsinger, Mayfield Police Department

Joseph Parkhill, University of Kentucky Police Department

Todd Raymer, Russellville Police Department

Randy Sergent, Flemingsburg Police Department

Gary Spillman, Bowling Green Police Department

Barry Stegner, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport Department

Norman Wagner, Bellevue Police Department

Joseph Webb, Louisville Metro Police Department

Three Operation UNITE supervisors