Kentucky State Police

Uniforms of the KSP

Troopers wear the standard French gray KSP uniform, consisting of a short sleeve and long sleeve version. Winter trousers are charcoal gray with a 1" black stripe down the side. Summer trousers are French gray with 1" black stripe. Patent leather chukka high top shoes are worn with both uniforms. The badge is worn on the left side of the shirt, with the Trooper's name plate directly below on the left breast pocket flap. Officers wear their rank insignia on the shirt collar while all other troopers wear their rank, if applicable, on their shirt sleeves. A white crew neck T-shirt is worn under the uniform shirt, per Kentucky uniform regulations. KSP requires a tie with long sleeve shirts, and the tie is to be tucked into the uniform shirt. The campaign hat is synonymous with troopers of the KSP. It is French gray in color, and troopers are issued two hats: straw for summer and felt for winter. A Kentucky State Police full color brass seal is worn on the front of the hat. The hat chord is light gray. Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers uniforms are identical to that of Troopers except that the uniform and campaign hats are tan instead of French gray. Facilities Security Branch uniforms are also tan but have a special Facilities Security Branch shoulder patch instead of the standard KSP shoulder patch.

Vehicles

The Kentucky State Police use a variety of police cruisers and patrol vehicles. The current fleet consists of:

• Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptors (CVPI)
• Chevrolet Caprice PPV's (based on the Holden Caprice)
• Dodge Charger 5.7L AWD PPV
• Ford Super Duty Crime Scene Response vehicle (one unit per post)
• Ford Explorer Utility Police Interceptors (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement)
• Ford Explorer Utility Police Interceptors
• Ford Taurus Police Interceptors (Facilities Security)
• Chevrolet Tahoe PPV

The Dodge Charger 5.7L AWD PPV currently serves as the primary KSP fleet vehicle. Due to Ford's discontinuation of the CVPI in 2011 KSP tested a series of vehicles to replace the CVPI between 2012 and 2013. These tests included the Chevy Caprice PPV, Ford Taurus, and Dodge Charger PPV. The KSP Division of Commercial Vehicle Enforcement currently utilize the Ford Explorer Utility Police Interceptor as they retire their fleet of CVPI's and Chevrolet Caprice PPV's. The KSP Facilities Security Branch will replace their CVPI's with Ford Taurus-based Police Interceptors.

Sidearm

In 2017 Troopers transitioned from the Glock Model 35 .40 S&W to the Glock Model 17 9mm as their primary sidearm. Prior to the Glock Model 35 troopers carried the 10mm Smith & Wesson Model 1076 (Model 1076 was used).^[10][11]

Overview

The department's headquarters are located at 919 Versailles Road in Frankfort while its training academy is located in the former Frankfort Career Development Center at 380 Coffee Tree Road in Frankfort. Cadets training to become troopers undergo a 24-week, paramilitary-style training program.^[12] Potential cadets who hold their Kentucky Peace Officers Professional Standards (POPS) certification and have two years of experience as a local, county or state (including Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers and Conservation Officers with the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources) law enforcement officer in Kentucky are eligible to apply to become troopers through the department's Law Enforcement Accelerated Program (LEAP). Those accepted as LEAP cadets must meet all of the other requirements for acceptance into the KSP Academy and undergo an accelerated 12-week academy training class.^[13] Sworn Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officers undergo an initial 18 weeks of basic law enforcement officer training at the Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond unless they have already completed this training at an earlier date. This is followed by a four-week training program at the KSP Academy that provides specialized training on commercial vehicle compliance and highway safety.^[14] After graduation, probationary troopers & CVE officers must complete field training under the supervision of a training trooper/officer at their assigned post (troopers) or region (CVE officers). Officers with the KSP Facilities Security Branch must meet the requirements for and receive a Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO) commission under KRS 61.900-930 as well as undergo specialized training, including firearms training.^[15] KSP telecommunicators (dispatchers) must complete a six-week training program at the KSP Academy.^[16]

The KSP operates the state's system of regional crime labs. In addition, the KSP Facilities Security Branch, along with specially assigned state troopers, is responsible for protecting the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, members of the Kentucky General Assembly and state property, including the Kentucky State Capitol Complex.^[5]

On July 14, 2008, the Kentucky Vehicle Enforcement department, which is responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement, became an operational division of the KSP.^[17]

The department also operates Trooper Island Camp, a juvenile crime prevention program at Dale Hollow Lake State Park.^[7]

On February 15, 2017, Commissioner Rick Sanders announced the formation of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). Experienced KSP detectives from throughout the Commonwealth were chosen to investigate Officer Involved Shootings (OIS) as well as Critical Incidents that involved Police or Corrections agencies.^[18]

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
      • Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)
  • Technical Services Division
    • Forensic Division
      • Central Laboratory – (Frankfort)
      • Eastern Laboratory – (Ashland)
      • Jefferson Laboratory – (Louisville)
      • Northern Laboratory – (Cold Spring)
      • Southeast Laboratory – (London)
      • Western Laboratory – (Madisonville)
    • Office of the Chief Information Officer
      • Communications and Computer Technologies Branch
      • Criminal Identification and Records Branch
      • Headquarters Communications Branch
      • Intelligence Branch

2006

• Male: 88%
• Female: 31%
• White: 96%
• African-American/Black: 14%
• Asian: 4%^[19]