Bluegrass Beat

In this powerful and enlightening episode, Department of Criminal Justice Training Resiliency Instructor Gabe Gillingham and his wife, Melissa Gillingham, discuss post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) among first responders and its ripple effects on their families and marriages. Tune in to hear the Gillinghams share their own personal journey through PTSI, restoration, helping others heal, and their...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Flemingsburg Police Chief and Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation (KLEMF) Board Chair Brian Bowling speaks with host Critley King-Smith about the foundation, its history, this year’s upcoming memorial ceremony, resources provided for families of the fallen and much more. This year’s Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony will be held June 4, 2024, at...

In this conclusion of the Bluegrass Beat case study: Seeking Savannah, Richmond Police Sgt. Kelli Fraze discusses her agency’s experience as the high-profile missing person’s case turned toward seeking justice for a murdered young Kentucky mother—Savannah Spurlock. Fraze, who was one of the case’s lead investigators, speaks about steps taken, lessons learned, gaining information from technology an...

It’s January 2019, a young mother of four has gone missing after a night out with friends. Her family is looking for answers and a community is concerned as everyone is seeking to find Savannah Spurlock and bring her home. In this special episode of Bluegrass Beat, Richmond Police Sgt. Kelli Fraze reflects on the early days of the case that threw Kentucky into the spotlight and spanned three count...

In the first episode of 2024, Department of Criminal Justice Training Instructor Gabe Gillingham talks about the Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminar, tools for coping with trauma and day-to-day stress, first-responder self-care, resiliency training and more. For more information about DOCJT’s Resiliency Section, click here . For information about the Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminar, cl...

In this year-end episode, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner Nicolai Jilek talks to host Critley King-Smith about starting his fifth year at DOCJT, the importance of standards, learning from looking back, supporting department staff, meeting law enforcement training needs with collaboration and no compromise.   ABOUT OUR GUEST Nicolai Jilek is the Commissioner of th...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Instructor David Gregory talks about his comprehensive experience with the agency as a recruit, a police chief and now as an educator. ABOUT OUR GUEST David Gregory served the city of Berea, KY, for 23 years—first as a police officer, police chief and then city administrator. Prior to his law enforcement career, Gr...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, former Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner John Bizzack talks about the efforts to establish the Peace Officer Professional Standards (POPS) and their lasting impact. Find more about POPS here . ABOUT OUR GUEST John Bizzack, Ph. D. served for nearly two decades as the Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner through three con...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox discusses his office’s recent report and keeping Kentucky kids safe while learning. View the school safety report here. Read more about the Office of the State School Security Marshal here . About Our Guest Ben Wilcox, Kentucky State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox began his career at the Department of Criminal Justice...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Director of Training Operations Frank Kubala and Telecommunications Section Supervisor Lee Ann Boyle reflect on memorable moments, training changes, comradery and culture that comprise Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training history. View DOCJT’s official timeline here . About Our Guests Frank Kubala, Ed. D., Director of Training Operations Throughout hi...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith walks down memory lane with Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Staff Assistant Patrick Miller to discuss the agency’s half-century history. View DOCJT’s official timeline here . Learn more about Staff Assistant Patrick Miller here . The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Tra...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith talks with former Georgetown Police Chief Mike Bosse about character-based leadership, the image of policing, changing the atmosphere of a department as a new leader, setting standards for one’s agency and holding each other accountable. The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s P...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Administrative Division Director Michael Bogan and host Critley King-Smith talk about inclusive leadership, what it means, how to implement it and build better working relationships within an agency to grow productivity and lead by example. The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Departm...

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Instructor Ed Lingenfelter and host Critley King-Smith discuss the Situational Leadership Theory that was created in 1969 by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey at The Center for Leadership Studies, and how the method has been adapted and taught to law enforcement at DOCJT since 1998. During the podcast, Lingenfe...

Host and Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Public Information Officer Critley King-Smith is joined by Public Information Supervisor Kelly Foreman to introduce the Bluegrass Beat podcast. The pair discuss the podcast’s focus on topics important to law enforcement and telecommunicators, such as training, technology, work/life balance, leadership and more. The Bluegrass Beat is recorde...