A large crowd, including law enforcement officers and local and state officials, gathered on Bean Cemetery Road in Madisonville on Wednesday afternoon for the groundbreaking of the new $50 million Department of Criminal Justice Training facility.
DOCJT Deputy Commissioner Brian Bowling said establishing the police training facility in Madisonville was a “no-brainer” for Team Kentucky, filling a vital need that will ultimately benefit public safety in local communities.
click to download audioWith Governor Andy Beshear unable to attend due to severe weather, Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Keith Jackson represented the administration and began by recognizing Crittenden County Sheriff’s Deputy and School Resource Officer Rick Coyle, who was shot in the line of duty on April 2 and remains in critical condition. He noted this is a reminder of the daily sacrifices officers and their families make to keep Kentucky safe.
Jackson said that when Beshear took office in 2019, Kentucky had just one law enforcement training center in the eastern part of the state, forcing some recruits to drive five hours. He said it soon became clear that more training options and support were needed.
click to download audioHe outlined the two new facilities planned for the campus.
click to download audioJackson said the new campus will establish a permanent presence for law enforcement training in Western Kentucky. Once finished, it will create 20 full-time jobs in Madisonville, with an average salary of about $60,000 a year.
Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton called it a historic day for both the city and law enforcement across the commonwealth, marking the result of years of effort.
click to download audioSecretary Jackson then revealed the campus and building names, chosen by Governor Beshear to honor two Kentuckians who dedicated their lives to serving the commonwealth.
click to download audioHe noted that Brown was the first Black Kentuckian to serve as Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet and also held roles as Deputy Attorney General and Secretary of the Executive Cabinet, while Gaines was Warren County’s longest-serving sheriff and a former National Sheriff of the Year.
Hardin County Sheriff’s Deputy Brionna Ray, who was named recruit of distinction for the first graduating class, also spoke at the ceremony as a representative for the 37 officers who have graduated from Madisonville and those yet to come.
At the conclusion of the remarks, the first shovels of dirt were turned, marking the start of construction on the new law enforcement training facilities.
To listen to the ceremony, click on the audio link below.
To view photos, click here.
