Bluegrass Beat

Louisville’s haunted locations are known for mysterious figures, unexplained encounters and stories passed down through generations. But beyond the legends, these places can present real challenges for law enforcement and  provide valuable lessons in officer safety, risk assessment, and responding to unusual calls for service.

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, we visit some of Louisville’s most talked-about locations, including Waverly Hills, Eastern Cemetery, the Seelbach Hotel, Sauerkraut Cave and the infamous Pope Lick Trestle. History buff and attorney Shawn Herron with the Louisville Metro Police Training Academy helps explore how these stories became part of Louisville’s identity, while Officer John Keeling brings the conversation back to the realities of police work.

How do officers assess a scene when a caller reports something unusual? What hazards should they recognize at locations with restricted access or dangerous surroundings? And how do training, sound judgment, and situational awareness help officers focus on what they can observe and verify rather than assumptions about what might be happening?

We also consider why people are willing to take risks to explore places they believe are haunted and what those choices can mean for public safety and the officers who may be called to respond.

Join us for an episode that connects Kentucky legends with practical lessons in law enforcement, officer safety, and the importance of making sound decisions in unpredictable situations. Because whether a call begins with a ghost story or something more ordinary, the fundamentals of police work remain the same: assess the situation, recognize the risks, and protect the public.

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ABOUT OUR GUESTS

SHAWN HERRON, LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE ACADEMY EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR

Shawn Herron blends a unique blend of legal, law enforcement, public service and historical expertise to any project she touches. Her career has included serving as an Assistant Director of Law for Louisville, working with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, and spending 20 years with the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT). Since 2021, she has served as an executive administrator at the Louisville Metro Police training academy.

A graduate of the University of Louisville School of Law, Herron is also an accomplished author and history enthusiast. She wrote The Alma Kellner Mystery, published by The History Press, and contributed to the documentary Revenge in the Mountains: The Murder of Chief Ambrose Metcalfe, available on Fawesome.

Herron is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science at the University of Kentucky, bringing her professional journey full circle through her passion for research, history and preserving the stories of the past.

JOHN KEELING, LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE OFFICER

Officer John Keeling has served with the Louisville Division of Police and Louisville Metro Police Department for more than 37 years. A graduate of duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Keeling was among the first sets of twins to join the department alongside his brother, Bill.

His family’s commitment to law enforcement continues today, with both his son and nephew serving as sergeants with the Louisville Metro Police Department. With decades of experience in policing, Keeling brings a seasoned perspective on public safety, human behavior and the real-world challenges officers face when responding to unusual situations.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music

"Rynos Theme “by  Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Sound Effects

Record Scratch by freesound_community from Pixabay

All episodes are edited for clarity and content.

When someone calls 911, help doesn't begin when the first responder arrives at the door. It begins with the person on the other end of the phone.

Public safety telecommunicators are often the first point of contact during someone's worst moments. They must gather critical information, make decisions under pressure, communicate with people in crisis, coordinate resources and, in some situations, provide lifesaving instructions while remaining calm and focused.

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith and Andrea Hale, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Public Safety Dispatch Supervisor, discuss what it takes to be an effective public safety telecommunicator and how the Public Safety Dispatch Academy's new curriculum is preparing dispatchers for the realities of the job.

Andrea explains the many roles a dispatcher must fill: detective, crisis communicator, multitasker, decision-maker, lifeline and more. They take a look at PSDA’s updated curriculum, what's changed and how the new training is designed to develop the skills dispatchers need in today's public safety environment.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.

Sound Effects

• Phone ring by EdR from Pixabay

• Phone answer by freesound_community from Pixabay

All episodes are edited for clarity and content.

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When people think of emergency response, they often think of the number 911. But there is another important resource that can help connect Kentuckians with the support they need: 211.

In this episode of the Bluegrass Beat, we explore how Kentucky 211 serves as a bridge between individuals, communities and critical resources. Host Critley King-Smith is joined by Roberta Steutermann, Vice President of Kentucky 211 with United Way, and Andrea Brown, State 211 Director and former Louisville Metro Police officer, to discuss what 211 is, how it works, and why it is an important tool for law enforcement and telecommunicators.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Music for Creators from Pixabay.‍ ‍

This month on the Bluegrass Beat, we look at Kentucky’s Roadside Oral Fluid Testing Program with Office of Highway Safety Federal Program Specialist Matt McCoy and Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor Jenny True Reed. Listen as we discuss what the program is, how the rollout took place, how testing works, the legal side, and how to get involved.

To learn more about the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety, click here.

For more information about the Kentucky Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, click here.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Music for Creators from Pixabay.‍ ‍

In this episode of the Bluegrass Beat podcast, Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Executive Director Amy Hess joins us to discuss her agency’s role in keeping the Commonwealth safe and how it partners with local agencies to enhance public safety.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

With nearly 35 years of experience in public safety, Amy Hess has held leadership roles across federal, state and local government. She currently serves as the executive director of the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS). Before her role at KOHS, she served as a special assistant to Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training, after holding a similar position of executive advisor in the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. As Chief of Public Safety for Louisville Metro Government, she played a key role in the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest in 2020-2021. For 29 years before that, Ms. Hess was a Special Agent and senior executive in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assignments in Kansas City, Louisville, Tucson, Afghanistan, Memphis, Quantico, and Washington, D.C. Her FBI career culminated with promotion to Special Agent in Charge of two field offices and Executive Assistant Director over two branches at FBI headquarters. She resides in Louisville and holds a degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Music for Creators from Pixabay.‍ ‍

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith speaks with Pam Phipps, mother of Russell County Deputy Joshua Phipps, who was killed in the line of duty in 2024.

They reflect on Joshua’s life beyond the badge, who he was as a son, what led him to serve, and the legacy he leaves behind. Pam shares what it means to see her son honored on the National and  Kentucky Law Enforcement memorials and speaks to the importance of remembering the men and women behind the names etched there.

This conversation also explores the difficult reality families face after loss, when public attention fades, but grief remains, and highlights the ways law enforcement agencies and communities can continue to support those left behind. It is a powerful and personal look at love, sacrifice, and the enduring impact of a life lived in service.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY LAW ENFORCEMENT MEMORIAL FOUNDATION

The Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation seeks to recognize all Kentucky peace officers who have given their lives in service to the commonwealth.

The memorial foundation was established in 1999 to build a monument recognizing Kentucky officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice. Once the monument was completed in 2000, the organization expanded its efforts to include an ongoing financial endowment program, which helps officers and their families with educational, medical and emergency needs. Kentucky’s Law Enforcement Memorial Monument holds the names of 599 men and women heroes who have died in the line of duty since 1845.

For more information, click here.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Music for Creators from Pixabay.‍ ‍

Scams are evolving, and they’re costing Kentuckians millions.

In this episode, we hear from Department of Financial Institutions Information Officer Tasha Stewart and take a closer look at the Stop Scams Initiative led by the Kentucky Public Protection Cabinet and its new partnership with the Kentucky State Police to better equip law enforcement agencies across the commonwealth.

We discuss:

What the Stop Scams Initiative is and why it was created

How the partnership with the Kentucky State Police supports law enforcement across Kentucky

The types of resources now available to agencies

Common scams currently impacting Kentuckians

How officers can respond when encountering scam victims

Practical tips for the public to avoid becoming a victim

For more information about the Stops Scams initiative, follow this link.

The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.

When a critical incident unfolds, law enforcement officers are often the first on scene, sometimes minutes before EMS can safely enter. In those moments, the ability to recognize and treat life-threatening injuries can mean the difference between life and death.

In this episode of Bluegrass Beat, Jason Mike, Tactics Section Supervisor and Critical Skills Instructor at the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training, explains why tactical medicine has become an essential skill in modern policing.

Mike draws from his experience as an Army combat medic, Silver Star recipient, and former patrol and traffic officer to explain how officers can transition from threat engagement to lifesaving care under extreme stress. The conversation covers preventable trauma deaths, officer self-aid and buddy-aid, active shooter response, and the importance of realistic, data-driven training.

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About our Guest

Jason Mike, Tactics Section Supervisor

Jason Mike is the Tactics Section Supervisor with the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training. He joined DOCJT in 2018 after an extensive career spanning military service and civilian law enforcement.

A Radcliff, Kentucky native, Mike served as an Army combat medic, deploying to Iraq, where he was awarded the Silver Star for extraordinary valor during a large-scale ambush in 2005. Following his military service, he transitioned into law enforcement, serving with the Paris Police Department and later the Honolulu Police Department, where he worked patrol, traffic enforcement, impaired-driving enforcement and high-risk operations.

Now at DOCJT, Mike leads and instructs courses in tactical medicine, active shooter response, traffic stops, and building search, bringing real-world experience and data-driven training to officers across the commonwealth.

Read more about Jason Mike in Kentucky Law Enforcement magazine.

The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.

Crime doesn’t stop at city or county lines — and effective public safety can’t either.

In this episode of the Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King Smith explores the Bluegrass and Central Kentucky Unified Police Protection System (BACKUPPS), a statewide cooperative program designed to help law enforcement agencies work together across jurisdictions.

First, BACKUPPS Chairman and Georgetown Police Chief Darin Allgood breaks down how the program works today, including governance, standard operating procedures, training, and what agencies need to know about joining. He also addresses common questions about communication, accountability and operating in another agency’s jurisdiction.

Then, Commissioner Mike Bosse, who helped write the original framework for BACKUPPS in 2014, reflects on the program’s creation and history. He discusses why cooperation is essential to modern policing, the importance of setting aside egos and “kingdoms,” and how unified leadership ultimately strengthens public safety for both officers and the communities they serve.

Together, these conversations highlight why collaboration, shared training and a common mission are critical tools in keeping Kentucky safe.

About our Guests

Darin Allgood, BACKUPPS Chairman & Georgetown Police Chief

Chief Allgood was appointed Chief of Police on January 13, 2023, and has served the department since 2012. He held various ranks during his tenure, including assistant chief of police, police captain, Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) lieutenant, CIS sergeant, administrative sergeant, CIS detective, and police officer. Chief Allgood has also worked for the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, Kentucky, and for the Huntersville, North Carolina Police Department, where he began his law enforcement career in 1995.

Chief Allgood earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University and a master’s in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. Chief Allgood is a graduate of the Academy of Police Supervision and the FBI National Academy, Class 284.

Chief Allgood is a certified instructor through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and has taught classes for the Department of Criminal Justice Training and Georgetown College. He has also served as a facilitator/adjunct professor at EKU, teaching classes in the Safety, Security, and Emergency Management program.

Mike Bosse, DOCJT Commissioner

Mike Bosse was appointed commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training by Gov. Andy Beshear on Nov. 1, 2024. He joined DOCJT in March 2024 as deputy commissioner and served in Kentucky law enforcement for over 41 years. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with High Distinction, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Police Administration.

Bosse served as Georgetown Police chief for 10 years. Prior to this appointment, he spent 30 years with the Lexington Division of Police, where he moved through the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and retired at the rank of assistant chief of police. Bosse spent a total of 12 years working in the Bureau of Investigations with the Lexington Division of Police, working most of that time in Special Investigations.

In addition to his undercover and supervisory experience in narcotics investigations, he spent 20 years working with Kentucky’s drug courts, five years working a drug detection K-9, five years as a board member of the Fayette County ASAP Board, three years as chairman of the Mayor’s Alliance on Substance Abuse. He has served as a member of Scott County Against Drugs board, has been a member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Law Enforcement Committee and was appointed to the NADCP Board of Directors, which conducts research and provides training to our nation’s drug courts.

Bosse is a certified instructor for the Department of Criminal Justice Training and is recognized by both Federal and State courts as an expert in police administration, including the use of force by police. Bosse has reviewed thousands of uses of force by police and has prepared reports in state and federal courts on over 50 occasions. Bosse was appointed to the Board of Licensure for Private Investigators by Governor Steve Beshear in 2014.

Bosse graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2000 and has conducted numerous leadership trainings around the country. He served as a member of Kentucky Law Enforcement Council for 7 years where he chaired the Professional Standards Committee for 4 years.

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.

In this first episode of 2026, Special Assistant Amy Hess discusses what can be expected from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in the new year.

Featured Guest

Amy Hess, DOCJT Special Assistant

With nearly 35 years of experience in public safety, Amy Hess has held leadership roles across federal, state, and local government. She currently serves as special assistant in Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training, after holding the position of executive advisor in the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. As Chief of Public Safety for Louisville Metro Government, she played a key role in the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest in 2020-2021. For 29 years before that, Ms. Hess was a Special Agent and senior executive in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assignments in Kansas City, Louisville, Tucson, Afghanistan, Memphis, Quantico, and Washington, D.C. Her FBI career culminated with promotion to Special Agent in Charge of two field offices and Executive Assistant Director over two branches at FBI headquarters. She resides in Louisville and holds a degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University

Learn More

Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training

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The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.

Like what you hear? We appreciate everyone who takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.

Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.