Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
Governor Fletcher Participates in Kentucky State Police Promotion Ceremony

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