Today, Gov. Andy Beshear was joined by members of the Cash family, the Kentucky law enforcement community and the Department of Criminal Justice Training to officially open the doors to the new law enforcement training facility named in honor of Jody Cash, who lost his life in the line of duty May 16, 2022, while serving as chief deputy of the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office.
“Today we are here to remember Chief Deputy Jody Cash and honor his legacy by dedicating this new training facility,” Gov. Beshear said. “I’m grateful for our partners who helped make this project happen, and my family and I are praying for the safety of each recruit and officer who passes through these doors.”
The Beshear administration broke ground on the Jody Cash Multipurpose Training Facility in July 2023. The facility is a 42,794-square-foot facility with a 50-yard, 30-lane firing range designed for officers to learn intensive and specialized training that will support training all of Kentucky’s law enforcement agencies.
“This state-of-the-art facility will provide recruits and students with the advanced training they need to face the evolving challenges of law enforcement,” said Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner Mike Bosse. “By equipping our officers with the skills and experience necessary to protect and serve, we will create a safer Kentucky for generations to come.”
Jody Cash’s father, Wayne Cash, spoke of a life well-lived by Deputy Cash and recognized the recruits who will become tomorrow’s heroes in his son’s honor: “Our hope is that the training received in this new facility will enable everyone who passes through it to do their job safely, efficiently and courteously and return safely to their family at the end of each day.”
Jody Cash graduated from DOCJT Basic Training Class 278 and was valedictorian of Kentucky State Police (KSP) Academy Class 89. He was a 22-year law enforcement veteran, serving with the Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office, Murray State University Police and KSP. Cash retired from KSP with the rank of sergeant before joining the Calloway County Sheriff’s Office. Deputy Cash also worked with DOCJT as a peer mentor through the Kentucky Post-Critical Incident Seminar, supporting officers after traumatic or distressing events.
Gov. Beshear has taken several steps to support law enforcement while creating safer communities.
Today’s grand opening was held two months after the Governor opened a law enforcement basic training academy in Western Kentucky. Training is held in a building provided by the Madisonville Police Department, while Team Kentucky constructs a $50 million multipurpose training facility in Madisonville. This is the first time since basic training became mandatory in 1998, Kentucky is offering training in two locations.
Since December 2019, the administration has graduated 1,993 officers from the basic training academy after receiving more than 800 hours of recruit-level instruction over the course of 20 weeks.
The Governor has awarded more than $12 million in grant funding to assist state and local law enforcement agencies with enhancing public and officer safety, curbing the sale of illegal drugs and fighting addiction, and more than $149 million in grant funding to victim service agencies across the commonwealth.
Gov. Beshear announced that Kentucky has secured another low recidivism rate. Nearly 70% of people released from state custody over the past two years have not been re-incarcerated.
The 2023 Crime in Kentucky report, released in July of last year, indicates crime rates have remained stable with a decline in offenses for homicide, burglary, robbery, sex offenses, kidnapping and gambling. For the last three consecutive years, homicide rates have been declining.
In June, Gov. Beshear announced that the 2023 Kentucky Drug Overdose Fatality Report showed that the commonwealth saw a nearly 10% decrease in drug overdose deaths last year. This is the second consecutive annual decrease.
The most recent budget signed by the Governor raises the law enforcement training stipend to an all-time high of $4,562 by fiscal year 2026. For the first-time in the state’s history, the stipend is provided to part-time law enforcement officers.