23 Officers Graduate From Third Class at Western Kentucky Basic Training Academy
On August 20, Gov. Andy Beshear announced that 23 law enforcement officers from agencies across the commonwealth have graduated from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s (DOCJT) basic training academy in Madisonville. These law enforcement officers now return home to serve, protect and create a safer New Kentucky Home.
“Thank you for putting in the work and answering the call to make our commonwealth a safer place,” Gov. Beshear said. “All of Kentucky is praying for you and your families as you begin this career in service to your communities.”
Class 571 is the third to graduate from the Western Kentucky Law Enforcement Training Facility in Madisonville. The current temporary facility opened in February 2025, marking the first time since basic training became mandatory in 1998 that Kentucky is simultaneously offering training in two locations. Since the facility opened, 60 officers have graduated from the Western Kentucky academy.
In April, DOCJT broke ground on the Department of Criminal Justice Training West: Gaines-Brown Campus, which, when completed, will house two buildings – a 42,800-square-foot classroom and administration building providing learning space, offices and recruit showers and changing areas, as well as a 30,625-square-foot high bay building, which will house an open training area, additional classroom space and gym equipment. The 2026-2028 state budget also allocates $13.1 million to construct a driving track at the new facility. The General Assembly did not include the full $64.8 million requested by the Governor in his executive budget proposal to construct both a driving track and an indoor firing range at the Madisonville facility.
DOCJT is committed to providing officers with best practices, the latest technology training and legal information to protect the diverse communities they serve. The graduates of Class 571 received more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over 20 weeks. Major training areas included patrol procedures, physical training, vehicle operations, defensive tactics, criminal law, traffic and DUI, firearms, criminal investigations, cultural awareness, bias-related crimes, and tactical responses to crisis situations.
Since December 2019, the Beshear-Coleman administration has graduated 1,929 officers from DOCJT’s basic training academy. Today’s 23 graduating law enforcement officers will begin working with the 8,000 other officers of the commonwealth to create a commonwealth that is safer for all Kentuckians.
“During the past 20 weeks you have listened earnestly to the training and guidance from your class coordinator and instructors at DOCJT,” said DOCJT Commissioner Mike Bosse. “I urge you to remember their instruction and commit the skills you take with you to heart. Their voices of experience will serve you well as you serve your community.”
The Beshear-Coleman administration is proud to welcome the 23 new law enforcement officers into the partnership of public safety. Along with all those currently serving in law enforcement, graduates will play key roles in the ongoing effort to make each of Kentucky’s communities safer.
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