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Kentucky League of Cities
>> “We’re kind of unique in that we’ll fund a variety
of equipment,” said Deines.
Currently KLC’s safety grants have placed more
than 300 in-car video units.
“Most departments really appreciate this because
it strengthens the role if a police officer gets the argument
from the person of ‘I really didn’t do this’
or ‘the police officer beat the tar out of me for no
reason.’ We find what really went on when we look
at [the tape],” Deines said. “We think it strengthens
law enforcement and at the same time helps reduce
liability across the board.”
“They’re hungry for people to come
see them and to help them because each
community has a slightly
”
different footprint
and a different need.
“the safety grant program is the most important tion is the key word there. they are great at provid-
service that the Kentucky League of cities provides,” ing information.”
Williamstown Mayor Glen Caldwell said.
1 KENTUCKY LAW ENFORCEMENT| Winter 2005
Williamstown has received grants for ballistic
vests and is currently equipping its public works
people with safety lighting for their vehicles. Mayor
Caldwell knows first hand the benefits of ballistic
vests. Warsaw’s Brent Caldwell is Mayor Caldwell’s
son. the Warsaw incident pushed Williamstown to
enforce a policy that all officers wear ballistic vests
while on duty.
KLC also offers the Firearms training system
to law enforcement agencies around the state. the
Fats units are located in a trailer that travels to a
lead agency in a region with a good firearms instructor.
surrounding agencies are invited to train
on the system. the system teaches judgmental issues:
how to decide when to use force, how much
force to use, and how an officer can escalate using
the wide variety of weapons available to him. the
system also allows the trainer to vary the outcome
of any scenario.
“It’s a great judgmental training device and it
also improves communication,” Deines said. “It also
brings home the reality the training puts you in.”
the Fats has also been taken to mayor conventions
and demonstrated to prosecuting attorneys.
“We support law enforcement by giving the decision
makers a chance to see what a peace officer
really goes through,” Deines said.
“the greatest asset of the League of Cities is the
capability to have qualified staff in any field of expertise
and provide any necessary information to
help overcome whatever your subject matter might
be,” Mayor Caldwell said. “the bottom line is this is
the age of information technology. I think informa-
Part of the KLC’s ability to provide information
and services in so many different areas and aspects
are the partnerships they have formed over the
years. their partnership with the regional Community
Policing Institute is just one of several that
demonstrates KLC’s continued commitment to
Kentucky law enforcement and communities.
according to their mission statement, rCPI’s
purpose is to encourage and enhance the implementation
of community policing in Kentucky in
order to create safer communities through training
and technical assistance. rCPI’s training is centered
on the development and delivery of quality law enforcement
training for police agencies and citizens
throughout the state.
In the late 90s rCPI partnered with the KLC to
create a 60-cities program promoting community
law enforcement linkages for cooperation, involvement
and better services. the program familiarized
local officials and residents of smaller towns about
community policing and helped identify specific
problems, said Dr. Gary Cordner, rCPI project