COLUMBIA, Ky. (October 7, 2023) — The Kentucky State Police (KSP) announced 30 telecommunicators, representing 13 posts across the commonwealth, have graduated from the KSP Telecommunications Academy. This is the agency’s largest graduating class in its history.
KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky state troopers, commercial vehicle enforcement officers, conservation officers and other emergency service agencies as needed. In 2022, telecommunicators answered over 622,000 calls resulting in more than 396,000 requests for assistance.
The graduates of Class 22 received 160 hours of instruction over four weeks. Major training areas include legal liability, limits of telecommunicator authority, telecommunicator’s role in public safety, interpersonal communications, customer service, combating stress and PTSD, ethics and confidentiality, responder safety, basic fire dispatch, state emergency operation plans, criminal justice information systems, first aid training, emergency medical dispatch and special needs callers.
During the academy, graduates were required to successfully process scripted calls for service and demonstrate proficiency in obtaining pertinent information, dispatching first responders, providing emergency medical dispatch if needed, and correctly documenting information from the call for assistance. The training concluded with a computer simulation system that simulates their work environment in the radio room.
The Post 15 graduates of the 22nd KSP Telecommunications Academy included:
- Brady Bell of Russell County. Bell is a graduate of Russell County High School. He is the son of Neil and Lisa Bell.
- MaKenzie Hughes of Adair County. Hughes is a graduate of Taylor County High School. She is the daughter of Ricardo and Miriam Hughes.
The agency is continuing to recruit for individuals to join Team Kentucky to provide critical assistance and assurance to their neighbors and loved ones. KSP telecommunicators the ability to receive an annual $3,100 training stipend. KSP telecommunicators now receive a starting salary of more than $41,000 annually. To apply for a telecommunicator position with KSP, click here, or contact the KSP post nearest to you for more information.
L-R: Lieutenant Jeremy Johnson, Telecommunicator Brady Bell, Telecommunicator MaKenzie Hughes, and Telecommunications Manager Miranda Luttrell
