Kentucky State Police - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Kentucky State Police (KSP) is a department of the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet

The Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet is an agency of the government of Kentucky that is responsible for providing law enforcement, criminal justice and correctional services to the citizens of Kentucky. The Cabinet is headed by a Cabinet Secretary appointed by the Governor of Kentucky,...

. The department was founded in 1948 and replaced the Kentucky Highway Patrol

Kentucky Highway Patrol

Kentucky Highway Patrol was founded in 1936 when the Division of Highway Patrol was created as a part of the Kentucky State Highway Department. The Highway Patrol began with 40 officers who enforced traffic laws on Kentucky roads. By 1938 the Kentucky Highway Patrol had 200 officers.On July 1,...

. The department's officers are called troopers and its nickname is The Thin Gray Line.

History

In 1948, the Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky General Assembly

The Kentucky General Assembly, also called the Kentucky Legislature, is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Kentucky.The General Assembly meets annually in the state capitol building in Frankfort, Kentucky, convening on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January...

enacted the State Police Act, creating the Kentucky State Police force, and making it the 38th state to create a force whose jurisdiction extends throughout the given state. The act was signed July 1 of that year by Governor Earle C. Clements

Earle C. Clements

Earle Chester Clements was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate and was its 47th Governor, serving from 1947 to 1950...

. The force was an outgrowth of the Kentucky Highway Patrol, and inherited the equipment and officers from that organization. Guthrie F. Crowe served as the force's first commissioner.

Posts

The Kentucky State Police operate from 16 regional posts:

West Troop

Post 1: Mayfield
Mayfield, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,349 people, 4,358 households, and 2,667 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,549.8 people per square mile . There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 734.8 per square mile...
Post 2: Madisonville
Madisonville, Kentucky
Madisonville is a city in Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States of the Western Coal Field region, located along US 41 and The Pennyrile Parkway. The population was 19,307 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hopkins County. The city was named in honor of U.S...
Post 3: Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Kentucky
Bowling Green is the third-most populous city in the state of Kentucky after Louisville and Lexington, with a population of 58,067 as of the 2010 Census. It is the county seat of Warren County and the principal city of the Bowling Green, Kentucky Metropolitan Statistical Area with an estimated 2009...
Post 4: Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown, Kentucky
Elizabethtown is a city in and the county seat of Hardin County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 28,531 at the 2010 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in the state...
Post 5: Campbellsburg
Campbellsburg, Kentucky
Campbellsburg is a city in Henry County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 705 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Campbellsburg is located at ....
Post 12: Frankfort
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
Post 15: Columbia
Columbia, Kentucky
Columbia is a city in Adair County, Kentucky, United States, just above Russell Creek. The area was settled around 1802 by Daniel Trabue. The post office was opened on April 1, 1806 by John Field, who also ran a local store. The population was 4,014 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of...
Post 16: Henderson
Henderson, Kentucky
Henderson is a city in Henderson County, Kentucky, United States, along the Ohio River in the western part of the state. The population was 27,952 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Evansville Metropolitan Area often referred to as "Kentuckiana", although "Tri-State Area" or "Tri-State" are more...

East Troop

Post 6: Dry Ridge
Dry Ridge, Kentucky
Dry Ridge is a city in Grant County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,995 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dry Ridge is located at ....
Post 7: Richmond
Richmond, Kentucky
There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...
Post 8: Morehead
Morehead, Kentucky
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,845 people, households, and families residing in the city. The population density was 726.2 people per square mile. There were 2,356 housing units at an average density of 253.3 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 93.2% White, 3.2% African...
Post 9: Pikeville
Pikeville, Kentucky
Pikeville is a city in Pike County, Kentucky. The population was 6,903 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pike County.-History:On March 25, 1822, the county's government officials decided to build a new county seat named Liberty, one and one-half mile below the mouth of the Russell Fork...
Post 10: Harlan
Harlan, Kentucky
Harlan is a city in Harlan County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,081 at the 2000 census and was estimated at 1,880 in 2007. It is the county seat of Harlan County.-History:...
Post 11: London
London, Kentucky
-Education:All of the following schools are administered by the Laurel County School District.-Primary schools:* * * * * * * * * * * * -High schools:* * -Colleges:* Laurel Technical College* * -Notable natives:...
Post 13: Hazard
Hazard, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,806 people, 1,946 households, and 1,266 families residing in the city. The population density was 684.6 people per square mile . There were 2,291 housing units at an average density of 326.4 per square mile...
Post 14: Ashland
Ashland, Kentucky
Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...

In addition, the Special Enforcement Troop includes the following branches:

Cannabis Suppression
West Drug Enforcement
East Drug Enforcement
Aircraft Support
Vehicle Investigations
Special Operations

Overview

The department's headquarters and training academy are located in Frankfort. Recruits undergo a 22 week, paramilitary-style training program. After graduation, probationary troopers must complete field training under the supervision of a training trooper. Rather than trooper basic training in Frankfort, sworn Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers undergo an 18 week basic training program at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Center at Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky University, commonly referred to as Eastern or by the acronym EKU by local residents, is an undergraduate and graduate teaching and research institution located in Richmond, Kentucky, U.S.A.. EKU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools...

in Richmond, Kentucky

Richmond, Kentucky

There were 10,795 households out of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.2% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. Of all households, 34.7% were made up of individuals and 8.8% had...

(the same basic training that municipal police officers and sheriff's deputies undergo), followed by specialized training on commercial vehicle enforcement.

The KSP operates the state's system of regional crime labs and is responsible for protecting the Governor

Governor of Kentucky

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...

, Lieutenant Governor

Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky

The office of lieutenant governor of Kentucky has existed under the last three of Kentucky's four constitutions, beginning in 1797. The lieutenant governor serves as governor of Kentucky under circumstances similar to the Vice President of the United States assuming the powers of the presidency...

, members of the Kentucky General Assembly

Kentucky General Assembly

and state property, including the Kentucky State Capitol

Kentucky State Capitol

The Kentucky State Capitol is located in Frankfort and is the house of the three branches of the state government of the Commonwealth of Kentucky...

Complex.

On July 14, 2008, the Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement

Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement

The Kentucky State Police Division of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement , commonly known as Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement , is a statewide law enforcement agency for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The department, which was a stand alone department until a July 14, 2008 executive order from Governor...

department, which is responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement, became an operational division of the KSP.

The department also operates Trooper Island Camp, a juvenile crime prevention program at Dale Hollow Lake State Park

Dale Hollow Lake State Park

Dale Hollow Lake State Park is a Kentucky state park comprising on the shore of Dale Hollow Reservoir.-External links:* official website* * tourism website...

Structure

Commissioner of the State Police
- Executive Security Branch
- Legal Office
- Administration Division
  - Programs
    - Drivers Testing Branch
    - Facilities Security Branch
    - Financial and Grant Management Branch
    - Highway Safety Branch
    - Inspections and Evaluation Section
    - Legislative Security Branch
    - Media Relations Branch
    - Strategic Planning Branch
  - Internal Operations
    - Academy Branch
    - Human Resources Branch
    - Internal Affairs Branch
    - Properties Management and Supply Branch
    - Recruitment Branch
- Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division
  - West Troop
    - Region 1
    - Region 2
    - Region 3
  - East Troop
    - Region 4
    - Region 5
    - Region 6
- Operations Division
  - West Troop
    - Post 1
    - Post 2
    - Post 3
    - Post 4
    - Post 5
    - Post 12
    - Post 15
    - Post 16
  - East Troop
    - Post 6
    - Post 7
    - Post 8
    - Post 9
    - Post 10
    - Post 11
    - Post 13
    - Post 14
  - Special Enforcement Troop
    - Cannabis Suppression
    - West Drug Enforcement
    - East Drug Enforcement
    - Aircraft Support
    - Vehicle Investigations
    - Special Operations
- Technical Services Division
  - Forensic Division
    - Central Laboratory – (Frankfort
      Frankfort, Kentucky
      Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
      
      )
    - Eastern Laboratory – (Ashland
      Ashland, Kentucky
      Ashland, formerly known as Poage Settlement, is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States, nestled along the banks of the Ohio River. The population was 21,981 at the 2000 census. Ashland is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the...
      
      )
    - Jefferson Laboratory – (Louisville
      Louisville, Kentucky
      Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
      
      )
    - Northern Laboratory – (Cold Spring
      Cold Spring, Kentucky
      Cold Spring is a city in Campbell County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 3,806 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cold Spring is located at ....
      
      )
    - Southeast Laboratory – (London
      London, Kentucky
      -Education:All of the following schools are administered by the Laurel County School District.-Primary schools:* * * * * * * * * * * * -High schools:* * -Colleges:* Laurel Technical College* * -Notable natives:...
      
      )
    - Western Laboratory – (Madisonville
      Madisonville, Kentucky
      Madisonville is a city in Hopkins County, Kentucky, United States of the Western Coal Field region, located along US 41 and The Pennyrile Parkway. The population was 19,307 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hopkins County. The city was named in honor of U.S...
      
      )
  - Office of the Chief Information Officer
    - Communications and Computer Technologies Branch
    - Criminal Identification and Records Branch
    - Headquarters Communications Branch
    - Intelligence Branch

In popular culture

The alternate-timeline historical fiction author Harry Turtledove
Harry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.- Life :...

has used a fictionalized Kentucky State Police as a plot device in his Southern Victory Series.
The Kentucky State Police was featured throughout the 1998 movie U.S. Marshals
U.S. Marshals (film)
U.S. Marshals is a 1998 action thriller film starring Tommy Lee Jones and Wesley Snipes, and a sequel to The Fugitive. The storyline of U.S. Marshals does not feature the character Dr. Richard Kimble; the role of the protagonist has been passed onto Samuel Gerard and his team of U.S...

which starred Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones
Tommy Lee Jones is an American actor and film director. He has received three Academy Award nominations, winning one as Best Supporting Actor for the 1993 thriller film The Fugitive....

, Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...

, Robert Downey, Jr. and Joe Pantoliano
Joe Pantoliano
Joseph Peter "Joe" Pantoliano is an American film and television actor. He played the character of Ralph Cifaretto on The Sopranos, Bob Keane in La Bamba, Cypher in The Matrix, Teddy in Memento, Francis Fratelli in The Goonies, Guido "the Killer Pimp" in Risky Business, and Jennifer Tilly's...

.
The Kentucky State Police was featured as the agency conducting the investigation into the death of an EPA agent in the 1997 movie Fire Down Below starring Steven Seagal
Steven Seagal
Steven Frederic Seagal is an American action film star, producer, writer, martial artist, guitarist and reserve deputy sheriff. A 7th-dan black belt in Aikido, Seagal began his adult life as an Aikido instructor in Japan...

, Marg Helgenberger
Marg Helgenberger
Mary Marg Helgenberger is an American film and television actress known for her roles as Catherine Willows in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as K.C...

, Kris Kristofferson
Kris Kristofferson
Kristoffer "Kris" Kristofferson is an American musician, actor, and writer. He is known for hits such as "Me and Bobby McGee", "For the Good Times", "Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and "Help Me Make It Through the Night"...

, Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton
Harry Dean Stanton is an American actor, musician, and singer. Stanton's career has spanned over fifty years, which has seen him star in such films as Paris, Texas, Kelly's Heroes, Dillinger, Alien, Repo Man, The Last Temptation of Christ, Wild at Heart, The Green Mile and The Pledge...

, and Levon Helm
Levon Helm
Mark Lavon "Levon" Helm , is an American rock multi-instrumentalist and actor who achieved fame as the drummer and frequent lead and backing vocalist for The Band....

.
The Kentucky State Police are featured in the FX drama Justified
Justified (TV series)
Justified is an American television drama series created by Graham Yost. It is based on Elmore Leonard's novels Pronto and Riding the Rap and his short story "Fire in the Hole". Its central character is Raylan Givens, a deputy U.S. Marshal. The series is set in the city of Lexington, Kentucky...

. Peter Murnick plays Kentucky State Trooper Tom Bergen, who assists Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens throughout season 2.

External links

Official Website for the Kentucky State Police