Bluegrass Beat

In this year-end episode, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner Nicolai Jilek talks to host Critley King-Smith about starting his fifth year at DOCJT, the importance of standards, learning from looking back, supporting department staff, meeting law enforcement training needs with collaboration and no compromise.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

Nicolai Jilek is the Commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training located in Richmond, Kentucky. He most recently served as president of the largest police union in Kentucky, the River City Fraternal Order of Police (RCFOP) and as a sergeant with the Louisville Metro Police Department.

As president of the 2,500-member RCFOP, Jilek was responsible for mediating disputes between the department administration and its sworn members and for enforcing existing labor contracts. He also served as a legislative agent for the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police. In this role, he traveled the state to develop and strengthen working relationships with community leaders, elected officials and news media across the Commonwealth and advocated for law enforcement issues such as public employee pensions at the local, state and national levels. Jilek also sat on the Labor Committee and the Urban Cities Committee for the National Fraternal Order of Police, which allowed him to shed light on law enforcement issues at a nationwide level.

Jilek’s background at LMPD includes time spent in patrol and as a plainclothes detective in a division flex platoon investigating narcotic offenders and assisting division detectives.

Previously, Jilek was an officer and detective for the Danville Police Department. He was also a member of the special response team and a firearms instructor for the agency.

Jilek obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Kentucky, which he earned with honors, and graduated the National Forensic Academy in Knoxville, Tennessee. Additionally, he completed the 1,280-hour Kentucky Police Corps program at DOCJT in 2002 and the Louisville Metro Police Academy in 2007.

Jilek and his wife, Tami, a proud public school teacher, have two young daughters, Sophia and Zoe. The family makes their home in Jefferson County.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Instructor David Gregory talks about his comprehensive experience with the agency as a recruit, a police chief and now as an educator.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

David Gregory served the city of Berea, KY, for 23 years—first as a police officer, police chief and then city administrator. Prior to his law enforcement career, Gregory served six years in the United States Army as a tank driver and also worked several years as a corrections officer at the Kentucky State Penitentiary and the Madison County Detention Center.

Gregory currently serves as an instructor in DOCJT’s Leadership Section. He holds a bachelor's in police administration from Eastern Kentucky University.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, former Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner John Bizzack talks about the efforts to establish the Peace Officer Professional Standards (POPS) and their lasting impact.

Find more about POPS here.

ABOUT OUR GUEST

John Bizzack, Ph.D. served for nearly two decades as the Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner through three consecutive gubernatorial administrations.

Prior to his tenure with the state, Bizzack served 25 years with the Lexington Police Department, with much of his time in the agency's Criminal Investigation Bureau, Commander of Special Investigations and Robbery-Homicide. In 1996, he retired from Lexington with the permanent rank of captain. He served as a Regent on the board of Eastern Kentucky University and was co-founder and the first President of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation. In addition to his numerous accomplishments and endeavors, Bizzack is an author and a speaker on topics relating to law enforcement, leadership, Freemasonry and more.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox discusses his office’s recent report and keeping Kentucky kids safe while learning.

View the school safety report here.

Read more about the Office of the State School Security Marshal here.

About Our Guest

Ben Wilcox, Kentucky State School Security Marshal

Ben Wilcox began his career at the Department of Criminal Justice Training in 2004, and currently serves as the State School Security Marshal, an office created in 2019 after the passage of the School Safety and Resiliency Act.

He was most recently the Instructional Design section supervisor, where he was responsible for all testing, curriculum, lessons plans and instructional material at the agency. Prior to that, Wilcox worked as an instructor in the Driving, Firearms and Coordination sections.

Before coming to DOCJT, Wilcox spent six years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy and school resource officer working with students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

During his law enforcement career, Wilcox served as the President of the EKU Association of Law Enforcement from 1997-1998, was honored with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year award in 2001 and was nominated for DOCJT’s Instructor of the Year award in 2009 and 2014.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in police administration and a master’s degree in career and technical education, with a concentration in occupational training and development, both from Eastern Kentucky University.

Wilcox and his wife Angie have two daughters, Alexandria and Addison.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, Director of Training Operations Frank Kubala and Telecommunications Section Supervisor Lee Ann Boyle reflect on memorable moments, training changes, comradery and culture that comprise Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training history.

View DOCJT’s official timeline here.

About Our Guests

Frank Kubala, Ed.D., Director of Training Operations

Throughout his 25 years at DOCJT, Frank Kubala served as an instructor for various sections, as supervisor of the Investigations, and the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics Sections, compliance investigator, staff assistant, assistant training director, and now, director of training operations. He has been an adjunct professor at Eastern Kentucky University since 2004. Read his full biography here.

Lee Ann Boyle, Telecommunications Section Supervisor

Before joining DOCJT, Lee Ann Boyle began her career as a dispatcher for the City of Berea, KY. A year later, she joined the Berea Police Department as an officer in 1999. There she served 19 years and was named the 2003 Police Officer of the Year. At DOCJT, Boyle has been an instructor, class coordinator, and currently, supervisor of the Telecommunications Section. In 2019, she was honored with the Kentucky Women’s Law Enforcement Network’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She holds a bachelor’s degree in police administration and has presented Senate Citation at the state’s capital child exploitation cases.

Read more about Boyle’s lifetime achievement award and career here.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith walks down memory lane with Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Staff Assistant Patrick Miller to discuss the agency’s half-century history.

View DOCJT’s official timeline here.

Learn more about Staff Assistant Patrick Miller here.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith talks with former Georgetown Police Chief Mike Bosse about character-based leadership, the image of policing, changing the atmosphere of a department as a new leader, setting standards for one’s agency and holding each other accountable.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Administrative Division Director Michael Bogan and host Critley King-Smith talk about inclusive leadership, what it means, how to implement it and build better working relationships within an agency to grow productivity and lead by example.

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 episode of Bluegrass Beat, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) Instructor Ed Lingenfelter and host Critley King-Smith discuss the Situational Leadership Theory that was created in 1969 by Ken Blanchard and Paul Hersey at The Center for Leadership Studies, and how the method has been adapted and taught to law enforcement at DOCJT since 1998.

During the podcast, Lingenfelter gives law enforcement and dispatch professionals a summary of the course and ways to start incorporating Situational Leadership in their work and life, starting today.

For more information about leadership training at DOCJT, visit Leadership — DOCJT (ky.gov)

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.

Host and Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Public Information Officer Critley King-Smith is joined by Public Information Supervisor Kelly Foreman to introduce the Bluegrass Beat podcast. The pair discuss the podcast’s focus on topics important to law enforcement and telecommunicators, such as training, technology, work/life balance, leadership and more.

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 that takes the time to subscribe and rate this podcast.

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