Gov. Beshear, Kentucky State Police Encourage Young Kentuckians To Apply for Youth Academy Program

Gov. Beshear, Kentucky State Police Encourage Young Kentuckians To Apply for Youth Academy ProgramImmersive camp for those interested in a law enforcement career will be held June 28–July 2 at no cost to participants

FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 19, 2026) — Gov. Andy Beshear and the Kentucky State Police (KSP) are encouraging young Kentuckians interested in a career in law enforcement to apply for the state police Youth Academy Program. This weeklong camp allows Kentucky’s future officers the chance to interact with state police troopers while developing leadership skills, physical fitness and an understanding of law enforcement principles.

“This important program helps build trust between our communities and our law enforcement, while also showing young Kentuckians what it takes to pursue these heroic careers,” Gov. Beshear said. “Our brave KSP officers show up in so many ways to protect our people and I encourage eligible Kentuckians to experience this great opportunity to learn more.”

The third annual Youth Academy Program is scheduled to take place June 28–July 2, 2026, at Trooper Island Camp on Dale Hollow Lake at no cost to participants. Applications for the Youth Academy Program are currently being accepted online for Kentuckians 16-17 years old. The deadline to apply is May 14.

“The Youth Academy provides an authentic look at what it means to serve as a Kentucky State Police trooper,” KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said. “Participants are challenged to work as a team, think critically and build confidence, all while learning the values that guide our agency every day.”

During the week, participants will take part in a variety of activities, including:

• Exploring fundamental law enforcement values and ethics.
• Participating in team-building exercises to foster collaboration and teamwork.
• Learning forensic techniques through demonstrations by the KSP Crime Lab.
• Gaining insight into commercial vehicle enforcement operations.
• Understanding criminal investigations and crime scene analysis.

“I was once a high school student balancing school, sports, clubs and expectations, and now I am a father watching my own teenage daughters do the same. The habits you build now matter,” KSP Recruitment Branch Commander Lt. Charles Hedgespeth said. “The Kentucky State Police Youth Academy Program is for 16- and 17-year-olds who want to challenge themselves, develop leadership and see what it takes to become a Kentucky State Trooper. This program provides a firsthand look at the job, the standards and the mindset required to earn the title of ‘Trooper.’”

Since its launch, the Kentucky State Police Youth Academy has graduated 51 young Kentuckians. The program celebrated 23 graduates in 2024 and 28 in 2025, with two cadets returning for a second year. Because cadets may attend the Youth Academy multiple times, previous participants are encouraged to apply again to further develop their skills, deepen their experience, and continue exploring a future in public service.

“This academy allows young people to step outside their comfort zones and discover their potential,” Trooper Island Camp Commander Scott Ferrell said. “Each year, we see participants grow in confidence, responsibility and leadership, and we’re proud to continue offering a program that encourages service, discipline and teamwork.”

According to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, youth law enforcement academies play a valuable role in developing interest in public safety careers while strengthening trust and understanding between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

The Kentucky State Police remains committed to recruiting and developing a strong, dedicated workforce that reflects the communities of the commonwealth. Those interested in learning more about careers with KSP are encouraged to visit the agency’s website.

The Beshear-Coleman administration’s top priority is the safety of all Kentuckians. The Governor’s public safety actions are creating safer communities and a better Kentucky.

In January, Gov. Beshear requested funding that will support victims of crime and obtain justice through additional positions for the state police crime labs while improving radio communications for all law enforcement agencies in Kentucky. In December, the Governor joined the Kentucky State Police and first responders in Mayfield to bring local agencies onto the new Kentucky State Police radio system. The funding requested by the administration to the General Assembly is necessary to complete the radio system project statewide to ensure Kentuckians in every part of the commonwealth can receive first responder services with no gaps in radio coverage.

The 2024 Crime in Kentucky report, released in June 2025, shows that, from 2023 to 2024, reports of serious crime decreased by 7.66%.

Last September, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman joined KSP to break ground on a new, state-of-the-art Drivers’ Skills Pad at the agency’s training academy in Frankfort. The $2.7 million project will provide troopers, officers and cadets with a facility dedicated to safely practice and refine advanced driving techniques.

In April of last year, Gov. 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. 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.

At the beginning of his second term, the Governor proposed a $500 increase to the law enforcement annual training stipend, but the General Assembly chose to provide a combined $262 increase over the next two years. The budget signed by the Governor raises the training stipend to an all-time high of $4,562 by fiscal year 2026. Additionally, the Governor is providing part-time law enforcement officers with an annual training stipend for the first time in the history of the commonwealth.

As the Governor recommended in January 2022, $12.2 million was included in the state budget for KSP to purchase body cameras, which is the first time in the commonwealth’s history that funding has been allocated for this much-needed expense.

For more information about KSP’s commitment to creating a better Kentucky by making the commonwealth’s streets safer, communities stronger and the nation more secure by providing exceptional law enforcement, click here.

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