FRANKFORT, KY (Nov. 3, 2022) – Kentucky State Police (KSP) is currently seeking Kentuckians to join the agency as a telecommunicator to fill 46 full-time positions at 13 posts across the commonwealth. Telecommunicators are front-line essential law enforcement personnel who answer the call to provide assistance and assurance to both citizens and law enforcement officers when someone calls 9-1-1.
“Telecommunicators are essential to our law enforcement and are truly the bridge between our state troopers and the public.,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “I encourage any Kentuckian who wants a challenging, yet rewarding career, to serve their community by applying today. Let’s work together to create a better, safer Kentucky for future generations.”
KSP telecommunicators oversee dispatch duties for Kentucky State Troopers, Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation Officers and other emergency service agencies as needed. New hires will undergo four-weeks, 160 hours of training at the KSP academy in Frankfort. Major training areas include mitigation PTSD, handling callers in distress, proper dispatching and call-taking techniques, emphasis on responder and caller safety, emergency medical dispatch and more.
KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. says the role of a telecommunicator is critical to public safety and that unfortunately KSP is experiencing the highest vacancy rate for this position in the agency’s history.
“Now more than ever, we are seeking individuals who want a purposeful and fulfilling job,” said Commissioner Burnett. “We provide paid training, a clothing allowance and a great benefit package, plus the opportunity to make a difference every day.”
The starting salary for KSP telecommunicators ranges from $27,733 to $33,559 annually based on experience, plus a $5,500 training stipend after successful completion of the Telecommunications Academy. Additional benefits include paid holidays, paid vacation, paid sick leave and the opportunity to earn compensatory pay.
The requirements to become a KSP telecommunicator include:
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to multi-task
- Ability to handle extremely stressful and challenging conditions
- Handle flexible work schedules, including nights, weekends and holidays
- Ability to learn and adapt, especially in areas of technology
- Must be a High School Graduate
To apply for a telecommunicator career with KSP visit the Kentucky Personnel Cabinet’s website and search for ‘Public Safety Telecommunicator’ or contact your local post on the KSP website.
KSP’s focus this year is to maintain and strengthen its essential workforce in order to better provide public safety, maintain critical services and better reflect the diverse communities that KSP serves. For more information about KSP’s commitment of creating a better Kentucky by making the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger and the nation more secure by providing exceptional law enforcement, click here.
Beshear-Coleman Administration Commitment to Making Kentucky a National Leader in Public Safety
The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The public safety actions already taken by the Governor are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky now and into the future.
Since taking office, Gov. Beshear has awarded almost $8 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies to purchase resources that will allow them to protect communities and ensure their own safety as they stand on the front lines every day. Recently, the administration announced nearly $2 million in grant funding to enhance public safety, curb the sale of illegal drugs and fight addiction.
In October, the administration took another step forward in creating safer communities by awarding more than $350,000 in grant funding to prevent youth crime across the commonwealth.
The enacted bipartisan state budget signed by Gov. Beshear allows the commonwealth to take additional steps forward to make Kentucky a leader in public safety by enhancing law enforcement training, creating safer communities and improving the safety of both law enforcement officers and Kentuckians. In July, the Governor announced additional steps to enhance public and officer safety including funding for firearms training, a Western Kentucky training facility and a training stipend.
In June, Gov. Beshear announced the Military to Law Enforcement Program (M-2-LE). M-2-LE allows local law enforcement agencies in Kentucky to hire active service members within all branches of the U.S. military during their last 180 days of service. Upon being contracted by a law enforcement agency, the military member will continue to receive their pay and benefits from the U.S. military while they undergo law enforcement training at DOCJT.
In April, the Governor signed into law two pieces of legislation recently passed by the General Assembly to make historic investments in law enforcement by providing funds to KSP to recruit, train and retain the essential workforce needed to continue to provide the highest level of security to all Kentuckians. House Bill 259 ensures that all troopers will receive a $15,000 raise. Additionally, KSP’s starting pay for sworn officers will increase from $37,887 to $55,888 annually. By signing Senate Bill 209, Gov. Beshear established paid vacation, sick leave and holiday pay, as well as enhanced health insurance contribution payments for retired KSP troopers and CVE officers.
Also, as the Governor recommended in January 2022, $12.2 million was included in the state budget for KSP to purchase body cameras, which is the first time in the commonwealth’s history that funding has been allocated for this much-needed expense.
Gov. Beshear has championed legislative action like Senate Bill 64 and House Bill 254, making it easier for law enforcement to conduct undercover stings and increase the chances of stopping a horrific crime against a child from being facilitated through the internet. These actions will also provide law enforcement officers with the authority to charge offenders with harsher crimes to keep them away from the public, preventing further interactions with Kentucky’s most vulnerable population.
