Kentucky: Justice & Public Safety Cabinet

Thirty officers promoted; 54 honored as “Trooper First Class”

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky State Police (KSP) promoted 30 officers during a ceremony held today at the Clarion Hotel in Louisville. Another 54 officers were named Trooper First Class.

Governor Ernie Fletcher commended all the officers for their efforts.

“These men and women have dedicated themselves to advancing the mission of the Kentucky State Police,” said Fletcher. “On behalf of the Commonwealth, I want to commend the promotional recipients and Trooper First Class awardees for their commitment to public service and safety.”

KSP Commissioner John (Jack) Adams cited the hard work and dedication that troopers must possess to be promoted.

“These officers have dedicated countless hours of training, studying, testing, interviewing and otherwise maintaining the highest standards to take their place as leaders in the Kentucky State Police,” said Adams. “I applaud your achievements and challenge you to continue to bring pride to this agency and safe communities to our citizens.”

Fletcher and Adams also recognized those officers receiving trooper service achievement awards, earning them the title of Trooper First Class. This was the second group of troopers to receive this designation since the program was begun last year. The award is based on criteria that includes performance evaluations and at least eight years of service with the agency. The career range of the 54 recipients is eight years to 37 years.

“I am proud to present these awards of Trooper First Class,” said Adams. “These officers have excelled in many areas to earn this award and can take pride in being only the second group to receive it.”

The five lieutenants promoted to captain were Dwayne F. Depp, William M. Marks, Keith A. Peercy, Anthony W. Terry and Eric J. Walker.

Capt. Depp, a 15-year veteran of the agency, will move from his current assignment in the Human Resources/Recruitment Branch at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort to the Legislative Security Branch as commander, also in Frankfort. Capt. Marks, a 21-year veteran, will transfer from Inspections and Evaluations Branch to Post 1 Mayfield as commander. Capt. Peercy, a 10-year veteran, will remain at his current assignment as commander of the Financial Grants Management Branch at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort. Capt. Terry, a 16-year veteran, will transfer from the KSP Academy in Frankfort to the Inspections and Evaluations Branch as commander, also in Frankfort. Capt. Walker, a 12-year veteran, will remain in his current position as commander of the Governor’s Highway Safety Program located at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort.

Officers promoted to lieutenant include Bobby Day, Jonathan Dowdy, Phillip T. Crumpton, Thomas W. Lilley, Howard L. Logue Jr., L. Scott Miller, Robert A. Shoultz and Chad E. White.

Lt. Day, a 15-year veteran, has been reassigned from the Special Operations Division to the Commissioner’s Office. Lt. Dowdy, an eight-year veteran, has been reassigned from Post 12 Frankfort to Post 1 Mayfield. Lt. Crumpton, a 15-year veteran, will remain as commander in the Media Relations Branch, located at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort. Lt. Lilley, an eight-year veteran, will transfer from Post 6 Dry Ridge to the Inspections and Evaluations Branch. Lt. Logue, a 16-year veteran, will remain in the Communications and Computer Technology Branch, located in Frankfort. Lt. Miller, an eight-year veteran, will remain in his current assignment in the Commissioner’s Office at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort. Lt. Shoultz an eight-year veteran, will transfer from Post 16 Henderson to Post 2 Madisonville. Lt. White, an eight-year veteran, will remain at Post 5 Campbellsburg.

The 17 officers promoted to sergeant are: Jason B. Adams, Aaron D. Beighle, Lonnie W. Bell, John W. Clark, Ryan O. Dawson, Lewie M. Dodd Jr., Dexter B. Evans, David R. Gibbs, Eric L. Gibson, Brandon W. Hammers, James D. Heller, James G. Jones, Corey T. Knochel, Steven J. Long, Bryan A. Powell, Samuel C. Steger Jr. and Jon P. Turner.

Sgt. Jason Adams, an eight-year veteran, will remain at Post 10 Harlan. Sgt. Beighle, a 10-year veteran, will remain at Post 6 Dry Ridge. Sgt. Bell, also a 10-year veteran, will remain at Post 16 Henderson. Sgt. Clark, a 12-year veteran, will remain at Post 3 Bowling Green. Sgt. Dawson, an eight-year veteran, will transfer from Post 1 Mayfield to Post 16 Henderson. Sgt. Dodd, an eight-year veteran, will remain at Post 1 Mayfield. Sgt. Evans, a ten-year veteran, will transfer from Post 8 Morehead to the Internal Affairs Branch at KSP Headquarters in Frankfort. Sgt. Gibbs, an eight-year veteran, has been reassigned from Post 15 Columbia to Post 12 Frankfort. Sgt. Gibson, an 11-year veteran, will transfer from Post 7 Richmond to Post 12 Frankfort. Sgt. Hammers, a 12-year veteran, will remain with the Aircraft Branch in Frankfort. Sgt. Heller, a ten-year veteran, will move from Post 4 Elizabethtown to Post 5 Campbellsburg. Sgt. Jones, a 13-year veteran, will transfer from Post 2 Madisonville to Post 5 Campbellsburg. Sgt. Knochel, a ten-year veteran, will remain at Drug Enforcement/Special Investigations West Branch. Sgt. Long, a ten-year veteran, a ten-year veteran, will remain at the Special Operations Branch. Sgt. Powell, a seven-year veteran, has been reassigned from Post 14 Ashland to Post 10 Harlan. Sgt. Steger, an eight-year veteran, will transfer from Post 1 Mayfield to Post 16 Henderson. Sgt. Turner, a 12-year veteran, will transfer from Post 8 Morehead to Post 14 Ashland.

The following officers were awarded Trooper First Class:

Trooper Samuel L. Agee
Executive Security Branch
27-year veteran

Trooper Christopher A. Armbrust
Post 16-Henderson
11-year veteran

Trooper Brian D. Babbs
DESI West
21-year veteran

Trooper William P. Baker
Post 11-London
17-year veteran

Trooper Barry S. Bates
DESI West
9-year veteran

Trooper Kenneth R. Carter
Post 16-Henderson
37-year veteran

Trooper Norman Chaffins Jr.
Post 4-Elizabethtown
12-year veteran

Trooper Julian M. Christopher
Driver Testing Branch
28-year veteran

Trooper James A. Corbett
DESI West
18-year veteran

Trooper Dean E. Craft
Post 13-Hazard
20-year veteran

Trooper Edward R. Crum
Post 9-Pikeville
18-year veteran

Trooper Samuel C. Durham
Communications Branch
20-year veteran

Trooper Clinton A. Graves
Post 6-Dry Ridge
18-year veteran

Trooper James J. Griffin
DESI West
20-year veteran

Trooper Johnny W. Griffith
Post 13-Hazard
20-year veteran

Trooper Billy Hall
Executive Security Branch
15-year veteran

Trooper Derek K. Hall
Post 13-Hazard
13-year veteran

Trooper Scott R. Hammond
Post 15-Columbia
8-year veteran

Trooper Evan K. Harrod
Driver Testing Branch
18-year veteran

Trooper Phillip S. Hazlette
Post 9-Pikeville
21-year veteran

Trooper Jarett A. Hess
Driver Testing Branch
23-year veteran

Trooper Dewayne L. Holder
Post 15-Columbia
10-year veteran

Trooper Gregory S. Huffman
DESI West
9-year veteran

Trooper Jacky R. Hunt
DESI West
12-year veteran

Trooper Tommy L. Johnson
DESI West
23-year veteran

Trooper Bruce D. Kelley
Post 13-Hazard
16-year veteran

Trooper Corey T. Knochel
DESI West
10-year veteran

Trooper Steven T. Maggard
Canine Section
10-year veteran

Trooper Shane G. Mahan
Driver Testing Branch
23-year veteran

Trooper Gene A.
Moody Driver Testing Branch
28-year veteran

Trooper Timothy W. Mullins
Post 13-Hazard
15-year veteran

Trooper Lawrence C. Newton
Canine Section
8-year veteran

Trooper Ronald E. Pillow
Driver Testing Branch
24-year veteran

Trooper Curtis C. Pingleton
Post 10-Harlan
20-year veteran

Trooper Shawn Podunavac
Canine Section
8-year veteran

Trooper John L. Pratt
Executive Security Branch
21-year veteran

Trooper Shawn R. Ramage
DESI West
10-year veteran

Trooper Tommy R. Ritter
Driver Testing Branch
23-year veteran

Trooper John C. Saylor
DESI West
13-year veteran

Trooper Wendell Scott
Driver Testing Branch
28-year veteran

Trooper Robert W. Shoemaker
DESI West
16-year veteran

Trooper William C. Sutton
Technical Services Division
21-year veteran

Trooper Jon P. Taylor
Post 4-Elizabethtown
21-year veteran

Trooper Joseph A. Veeneman
Post 8-Morehead
10-year veteran

Trooper Tony R. Wells
Post 15-Columbia
24-year veteran

Trooper Tina Wermuth
DESI East
20-year veteran

Trooper Todd S. Wheeler
Post 9-Pikeville
13-year veteran

Trooper Gregory L. Wilson
DESI West
17-year veteran

Trooper Jerry M. Wise
Post 12-Frankfort
16-year veteran

Trooper Joseph M. Woo
Post 16-Henderson
17-year veteran

Trooper Rhonda J. Wood
Driver Testing Branch
16-year veteran

Trooper Van K. Wright
Post 11-London
18-year veteran