Kentucky State Police Friday announced that Mairkqus Thompson of Post 1, Mayfield and 13 other telecommunicators have graduated from the KSP Telecommunications Academy. They will begin answering calls for assistance for state residents and law enforcement.
The graduates completed 160 hours of instruction during four weeks. Major training topics include interpersonal communication, customer service, and the role of telecommunicators in public safety. Other topics span legal liability, limits of telecommunicator authority, combating stress and PTSD, and ethics and confidentiality.
Additional skills taught include responder safety, basic fire dispatch, state emergency operation plans, and emergency medical dispatch. Rounding out needed skills are instruction in criminal justice information systems, first aid training, emergency medical dispatch and special needs callers.
Training concluded with a computer system that simulates their work environment in the radio room.
Other Class 21 graduates and their assigned posts include:
- Sarah Gowen, Post 4, Elizabethtown
- Hannah Burgess, Post 9, Pikeville
- Cory Fields, Post 9, Pikeville
- Christy Ray, Post 9 Pikeville
- Ana Loreto, Post 12, Frankfort
- Timothy Neal, Post 12, Frankfort
- Elizabeth Smith, Post 12, Frankfort
- Hannah Tucker, Post 12, Frankfort
- Ethan Brown, Post 13, Hazard
- Kyler Calhoun, Post 13, Hazard
- Kayla Spearman, Post 14, Ashland
- Jessica Andrew, Post 15, Columbia
- Hunter Hedges, Post 16, Henderson
Requirements to become a KSP telecommunicator include status as a high school graduate, excellent communication skills,and handling flexible work schedules that include nights, weekends, and holidays.
To learn more about KSP career opportunities, visit the website.
