By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
Glasgow Daily Times
GLASGOW —
After contending with a staffing shortage for more than a year, the Glasgow Police Department is finally back to full force. Eleven new officers have joined the department in the last 14 months.
Five of the officers were hired in June of 2004 and graduated from the Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy [DOCJT] at Eastern Kentucky University in November and December. They completed an additional eight weeks of police officer training when they returned to the GPD.
The additional instructional time is essential because even though the new officers learned basic procedures at the academy they may not be familiar with how the local department functions, according to GPD Support Services Commander Lt. Col. Kent Keen.
“Basically, they ride with a training officer and it provides them with all aspects of police forms and policies, how to interact with citizens and how the equipment operates,” he said.
The new officers come from various backgrounds and have their own personal reasons why they chose law enforcement as a career and the local department as a starting point.
• Adam Bow, 25, from Glasgow, graduated from Barren County High School in 2004. He completed academy training on Nov. 13, 2009.
“Law enforcement has always been my dream career. After high school, I was given a different, but fortunate career opportunity in construction. I chose that path and worked in construction for five years. Over that time, I decided to pursue my original dream, law enforcement, in the spring of 2009. I was hired in June 2009 with the Glasgow Police Department,” Bow said. “The reason I chose to pursue a career in law enforcement with the GPD was because Glasgow is where I was born and raised.”
• Justin Kirkpatrick, 25, from Glasgow, was a 2003 graduate of Glasgow High School. He worked at the Barren County Corrections Center from January 2007 to June 2009. He also graduated from the police academy in November 2009.
“I’m a hometown person. When I was younger, I always wanted to work for GPD ... always wanted to stay close to my family. One reason I chose this profession is that I like helping people. Actually, that’s the main reason I chose this profession. I’m happy GPD has allowed me to work here and I plan on staying here as long as they’ll have me. I also like knowing when I go home every night, that I have made a difference for the better for Glasgow. The city of Glasgow is a nice town with great citizens living here. Without the help from the community, it would be extremely difficult to be an effective police department,” Kirkpatrick said.
• Ashley Towe, 26, from Scottsville, attended high school in Lafayette, Tenn., and graduated from Macon County High School in 2002. She graduated from Draughons Junior College in Bowling Green in July 2009 with an associate’s degree in Criminal Justice.
She graduated from DOCJT in December.
“I chose law enforcement as a career because I’ve always liked to help people. I like to solve problems and hopefully make a difference in those people’s lives I come into contact with. I chose Glasgow because it’s a small department and I like the location. I live in Scottsville, so the drive for me is fairly short,” Towe said.
• Jacob Elmore, 23, from Glasgow, graduated from Barren County High School in 2004 and the DOCJT in December 2009. Previous work experience includes the Barren County Correction Center.
“I wanted to become an officer as a child. It was my goal. I grew up in a law enforcement family and always wanted a career in it. It’s an opportunity to help others, help the community. I feel the Glasgow Police Department is a great department and great people to work with and it’s home to me,” Elmore said.
• Jarrod Steele, 26, from Knob Lick, was a 2002 graduate of Metcalfe County High School and also graduated from the DOCJT on Dec. 18, 2009.
He previously farmed and owned and operated Steele’s Body Shop and then worked as a security guard at T.J. Samson Community Hospital for nine months prior to the GPD.
“After riding along with Metcalfe County Sheriff’s deputies for a short period of time, I took a great interest in law enforcement. I grasp the concept of getting to help clean up the drugs and other various problems our community faces. Hopefully, it will provide a better environment for my family in the future. I chose GPD because of the larger-size department compared to my hometown and surrounding communities. I feel that GPD offers more extensive training and allows me room for advancement and promotion in the future. I also enjoy being a part of the GPD C.E.R.T. (Critical Emergency Response Team),” Steele said.
One officer came to Glasgow from another law enforcement agency.
• Michael Burton, 34, from Adair County, graduated from DOCJT in September 2006. He worked for the Adair County Sheriff’s Department from September 2006 until June 2010.
“I enjoy being in law enforcement and had the chance to apply with Glasgow. I had a chance to meet some of the officers and command staff and really like the teamwork they showed. I have enjoyed working with a larger department. I have enjoyed the opportunity to work in the city of Glasgow and have had the opportunity to help some of the citizens of Glasgow. The department has given me the tools and support to help me in helping the people of Barren County. I enjoy the career I have chosen and look forward to meeting and helping the people of Barren County,” Burton said.
An additional officer is originally from another state.
• Jerry Artos, 26, is from Chicago, Ill. He graduated from Lewis University in May 2006 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He has previous military experience.
Artos said he always wanted a career in law enforcement and he thinks GPD is a great department and Glasgow is a good community.
Three of the officers graduated from the academy earlier this month.
• Joseph Ford, 28, from Monroe County, graduated from the police academy on Aug. 6. He was in the military and worked for RR Donnelley’s previously.
Ford said he wanted to work with the city of Glasgow and the community.
“I live in Glasgow and wanted to work with the department,” he said.
• Mary Driver, 26, from Danville, is a 2001 graduate of Boyle County. She graduated from Kentucky State University in 2007 and the DOCJT Academy on Aug. 6. She was a dispatcher for Frankfort/Franklin County 911 and for the Glasgow Police Department.
“Law enforcement is interesting and fits my personality,” Driver said.
• Jabin McGuire, 22, from Glasgow, graduated from GHS in 2006 and from DOCJT on Aug. 6. He had worked for Dana Inc., Glasgow Electric Motor and Food Lion.
“Law enforcement is a great career to be in with many great opportunities. I’ve always dreamed of being a police officer and always worked towards being one. I chose Glasgow Police Department because Glasgow is a great city to work in and I know well from living here my whole life,” McGuire said.
The newest member of the force will complete academy training in November.
• Aaron Cowan, 28, grew up in Hart County until the eighth grade and then moved to Simpson County.
He graduated from Franklin-Simpson High School in 2000 and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Eastern Kentucky University in December 2006. While at EKU he was a cadet with the university’s police department. His senior year of college he spent five weeks in Mexico studying Spanish and criminal justice/law enforcement. He will complete the DOCJT academy on Nov. 5.
“I chose law enforcement because of opportunities that come with the field. I enjoy helping people and the break of routine. You never know what you’ll be doing next. I’ve always wanted a professional job I can be proud of – a respectable position that is earned not given,” he said.
Cowan said he applied for the opening with the department after meeting with some of the officers there.
“It’s a great place to begin a career, a forward-moving department and there’s a lot of opportunity for me. I look forward to serving the people of Glasgow and Barren County,” he said.
Having a full complement of officers again will allow the department to have additional opportunities to serve the community such as a bike patrol, school programs, presentations for community organizations including AARP and Newcomers Club and even church safety programs, according to Keen.
“It’s going to enable us to put more [officers] into those programs,” he said.
The GPD Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association will have a fundraising picnic for the department and to introduce the new officers to the community on Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Beaver Trail Complex. The public is invited to attend.
