(FRANKFORT, Ky.)—The Kentucky State Police Academy presented diplomas to 62 new troopers at ceremonies held Tuesday in Frankfort. Their addition to the force brings the agency’s strength to a total of 880 troopers serving the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The new troopers are part of the agency’s 91st cadet class. They started a 23-week training cycle on June 9, 2013 in a class that consisted of 87 cadets. Twenty-five resigned during the weeks of mental and physical challenges that followed.
The training included more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study in subjects such as constitutional law, juvenile and traffic law, use of force, weapons training, defensive tactics, first aid, high speed vehicle pursuit, criminal investigation, computer literacy, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, radio procedures, search and seizure, crash investigation, drug identification, traffic control, crowd control, armed robbery response, land navigation, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.
Several members of the class earned special recognitions including valedictorian Corey Rich, of Williamstown, Ky., and salutatorian Steven Dykes, of Crestwood, Ky.
Dykes also received the Ernie Bivens Award, an honor presented to the cadet who, in the opinion of the KSP Academy staff supported by input from the cadets themselves, shows distinction as a class leader, strives for academic excellence and has excelled in all phases of the academy’s physical and vocational training.
Andrew Bratcher, of Leitchfield, Ky., received the Commissioner’s Commitment to Excellence Award, which is presented to cadets who demonstrate leadership, the desire to get the job done and the determination to be the best every day.
Sam Faris, of Corbin, Ky., and Forest Newsome, of Richmond, Ky., received Overall Fitness Awards. Austin Brashear, of Richmond, Ky., received the Most Improved Fitness Award.
The following is a list of the new troopers, their duty assignments and their hometowns or residences:
POST 1, MAYFIELD
Clinton D. Bale, Summersville, Ky.
Johnathan A. Coppersmith, Vine Grove, Ky.
Luke I. Durbin, Bardstown, Ky.
Anthony I. Harrison, Radcliff, Ky.
Daniel B. Holland, South Carrollton, Ky.
Adam S. Mattingly, Richmond, Ky.
Kory R. McDonald, Beechmont, Ky.
Derek S. Scott, Dawson Springs, Ky.
Logan T. Smith, Lexington, Ky.
Gerick W. Sullivan, Calvert City, Ky.
POST 5, CAMPBELLSBURG
Steven C. Dykes, Crestwood, Ky.
Bryan M. Lauck, Cincinnati, Ohio
POST 6, DRY RIDGE
Troy A. Brooks, Dry Ridge, Ky.
Joseph F. Brown, Prospect, Ky.
Joshua L. Giles, Richmond, Ky.
Corey P. Rich, Williamstown, Ky.
Charles P. Wagner, Paris, Ky.
Isaac J. Waters, Cincinnati, Ohio
POST 8, MOREHEAD
Brandon S. Burton, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Todd M. Coleman, Mt. Sterling, Ky.
Bryantt A. Furman, Morehead, Ky.
Luke A. Goodwin, Paris, Ky.
POST 9, PIKEVILLE
Michael Cameron Allen, Richmond, Ky.
Austin M. Brashear, Richmond, Ky.
Derek C. Coleman, Teaberry, Ky.
Jon G. Hall, Lexington, Ky.
Jonathan M. Hedges, Owensboro, Ky.
Hunter W. Hensley, Danville, Ky.
Robert M. Martin, Morehead, Ky.
Joshua L. Neace, Vancleve, Ky.
Jacob T. Roberts, Manchester, Ky.
Harold C. Rowe, Olive Hill, Ky.
James O. Royal, Berea, Ky.
Johnathan D. Walls, Stanford, Ky.
Joseph L. Weddington, Richmond, Ky.
Derek M. Welch, Utica, Ky.
Adam L. Wright, Beaver Dam, Ky.
POST 10, HARLAN
Desmond A. Brittle, Somerset, Ky.
Sammy J. Faris, Corbin, Ky.
Douglas A. Frederick, Heidrick, Ky.
Wayne H. Hensley, Corbin, Ky.
Frank O. Russell, Williamsburg, Ky.
Michael A. Soltess, Benham, Ky.
POST 11, LONDON
Benjamine S. Graves, Brodhead, Ky.
POST 13, HAZARD
Robert K. Dials, Pinetop, Ky.
Matthew W. Gayheart, Pinetop, Ky.
Joshua T. Huff, Mallie, Ky.
Ora Charles Moore, Viper, Ky.
Luke A. Pridemore, Mallie, Ky.
Joshua C. Richardson, Vicco, Ky.
POST 14, ASHLAND
David R. James, Owingsville, Ky.
Bobby W. King, Morehead, Ky.
Adam G. Kirk, Lexington, Ky.
Samuel B. Lawson, Morehead, Ky.
Forest W. Newsome, Jr., Richmond, Ky.
Joshua L. Satterly, Lawrenceburg, Ky.
Rufus D. Shearer, Russell Springs, Ky.
Stuart P. Wiser, Nicholasville, Ky.
POST 16, HENDERSON
Marvin L. Blakey, II, Buffalo, Ky.
Andrew S. Bratcher, Leitchfield, Ky.
Charles R. Hedgespeth, Greensburg, Ky.
Lincoln S. Lawless, Campbellsville, Ky.
The new troopers will be supervised by a training officer for six to eight weeks after reporting to their post assignments.
