SENATOR DAMON THAYER RECOGNIZED FOR OUTSTANDING LEGISLATIVE SERVICE ON BEHALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Award Presented by Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police
FRANKFORT, KY (September 21, 2023) — Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, has been awarded the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) 2023 Outstanding Legislative Service Award.
As Senate Majority Floor Leader, Thayer plays a prominent role in shepherding bills through the legislative process, including 2023 Legislative Session bills that support law enforcement across the commonwealth. Thayer helped usher priority KACP legislation through including:
- Senate Bill 101 extends contracts subject to reimbursement for training costs to five years for law enforcement officers, including sheriff’s deputies and officers working for state universities and airports.
- Senate Bill 89 allows urban-county governments (Lexington) to reemploy police officers who have retired from the urban-county government police
- House Bill 207 allows law enforcement departments to create a wellness program featuring an Early Intervention System (EIS). An EIS allows an officer to seek and receive confidential counseling and other services and treatment and the information revealed by the officer would, in most cases, not be subject to the Open Records law and could not be used in court proceedings.
- House Bill 506 gives law enforcement retirees the option to receive a single payment upon retirement equal to 12, 24, 36, 48 or 60 months of benefits – also known as a Partial Lump-Sum Option.
Thayer also plays a key role in formulating the biennial state budget. The enacted 2023-24 budget included a $300 increase to the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund. The fund provides necessary funding for the mandatory training of Kentucky law enforcement officers and annually pays each officer who attends the minimum number of training hours an annual $4,300 supplement after the increase from the Kentucky General Assembly.
Additionally, in the 2023 Legislative Session, Thayer and lawmakers provided nearly $50 million to support corrections officers and those within the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice amid reports of sexual abuse, physical harm to staff, and much more in state facilities.
“During a time when our law enforcement officers are being disrespected on many fronts, I am honored to receive this recognition, because it indicates the Kentucky General Assembly is providing the support law enforcement needs and deserves,” Thayer said.
“I think about the officers we’ve lost recently or suffered injury. These brave men and others in law enforcement choose to put themselves between the public and the lawlessness that threatens us. The least we can do is support them legislatively, and I’m incredibly thankful we have done that and will continue to do so.”
KACP was founded in 1971 to secure official and personal cooperation among law enforcement executives and Kentucky citizens, according to their website. The membership consists of over 500 Kentucky Law Enforcement Executives including police Chiefs, Sheriffs, State and Federal Law Enforcement Administrators and Railroad Police.
Visit THIS LINK to learn more about the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. Visit legislature.ky.gov for more details about Senator Damon Thayer.