Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
DOCJT GRADUATES 20 OFFICERS FROM SERGEANT’S COURSE

RICHMOND, Ky. – “Today we stand proudly before you as leaders,” said Sgt. Joel T. G. Shepherd, class speaker for the Academy of Police Supervision Class 13, “confident that we will not only impact our departments, families and communities, but all that we come in contact with, for that is our call as officers.”
Peace officers from 16 law enforcement agencies across Kentucky were recognized today for completing the Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Academy of Police Supervision.
The APS, also referred to as 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.
Chief Deputy David Maddox of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, guest speaker for the ceremony, reminded the graduates that finishing APS was a chance for a fresh start.
“This is more than an end of a program,” he said. “It’s a beginning – you could call it a seed being planted. Now you are supervisors and you can begin to grow.”
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 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.
The APS held its first class in June 2003. Since then, 13 classes have graduated from the program.

APS Class 13 graduates and their agencies are:
Todd Clere, Murray Police Department
Jamie Collins, Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement
Tracy Guge, Murray Police Department
Steve Hall, Louisville Metro Police Department
Todd G. Hollandsworth, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
William B. Hunter, University of Louisville Police Department
Chapin Jones, Louisville Metro Police Department
Ricky C. Lester, Mayfield Police Department
Dean Pattison, Boone County Sheriff’s Office
R. Scott Paul, Independence Police Department
Jason Porch, Nicholasville Police Department
Jimmie Poynter, Bellevue Police Department
David Riley, Leitchfield Police Department
Joel T. G. Shepherd, Crescent Springs Police Department
Ben Spurlock, Middlesboro Police Department
Robert Swanigan, Georgetown Police Department
Rob Warfel, Frankfort Police Department
Mark A. Weaver, Paducah Police Department
Jason S. Whitaker, Georgetown Police Department
Aaron Yates, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office
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