On Tuesday, Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled part of his upcoming budget plan, which he said makes historic investments in law enforcement.
The governor’s two-year budget plan provides millions of dollars to fund competitive salaries for Kentucky State Police troopers, officers and telecommunicators, supply recording devices for KSP sworn troopers and increase the peace officer training stipend.
“My administration’s top priority is to protect our Kentucky families and communities,” Beshear said. “And today I am announcing that my next recommended budget will make historic investments in law enforcement, so that the commonwealth can become a true leader in improving public safety.”
Competitive salaries for KSP sworn personnel
KSP ranks 74th in the state among law enforcement agencies for starting pay, and compared with state police agencies in seven neighboring states, KSP ranks last in pay.
“It is not right that, when compared to our seven neighboring states, KSP ranks last in cadet pay, newly commissioned trooper pay and tenured pay,” Beshear said. “Kentuckians, as well as other local law enforcement agencies, rely on KSP to keep our commonwealth safe, and our troopers have more than earned pay that is comparable to their brothers and sisters in law enforcement across the state and nation.”
The governor said his plan would change starting pay for sworn officers from about $40,000 a year to $55,000. Current sworn troopers and officers would also receive the increase.
KSP is staffed with 736 full-time sworn troopers and officers, which is 273 short of where the agency’s sworn strength was in 2006.
“Gov. Beshear and members of his administration are well aware of the dedicated service of our troopers and telecommunicators,” KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said “His historic proposed budget for KSP, along with the current pace of Kentucky’s economy, will allow us to recruit, train and retain an essential workforce that provides the highest level of public safety to Kentuckians.”
“Being a trooper is part of my family tradition, as my father was a trooper and my brother was a trooper,” said KSP Detective Courtney Milam. “When my dad retired in 2008, he worked alongside nearly 900 troopers, whereas today, I serve with roughly 730 troopers. We are losing good troopers to other agencies that are able to pay higher salaries.”
The governor also sought to fund troopers’ salary increases in his last budget proposal, which lawmakers did not adopt.
Competitive salary increase for KSP telecommunicators
KSP telecommunicators handle dispatch duties for Kentucky state troopers, commercial vehicle enforcement officers, conservation officers and other emergency service agencies as needed. Currently, KSP telecommunicators are in the bottom 10 percent of lowest paid in the state, and there are currently 42 vacant positions.
“Last year, telecommunicators answered over two million calls resulting in more than 500,000 requests for assistance. They were the calming voice on the other end of the line when those calls were made to 911,” Beshear said. “Improving their salary is one step toward retaining these essential workers and better compensating them for their dedication.”
The work of a telecommunicator is one of the most challenging in law enforcement. In the past five years, KSP has averaged a nearly 23 percent turnover rate. The governor’s proposal will increase KSP telecommunicators’ starting pay from $24,000 annually to $32,000. Currently employed telecommunicators also would receive the increase.
“Our agency has telecommunicator vacancies at every post, and often when we advertise the job openings, we receive zero applicants,” said KSP Telecommunications Supervisor Joey Mattingly, a Grayson County resident. “With the governor’s budget request, we will be able to competitively recruit while retaining the talent we already have.”
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
