New deputy completes basic training at EKU

Carroll County Sheriff’s Deputy Travis Price has completed basic training on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University and is back in Carroll County on patrol.

Sharon Graves

New Carroll County Sheriff's Deputy Travis Price has completed basic training.

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Price was one of 23 officers of Class 399 who completed the 18 weeks of training with other law enforcement officers from 15 agencies across the state. The class began with 27 individuals and 23 completed and graduated from the academy.

Training included more than 750 hours of recruit-level-officer academy instruction including: homeland security, law offenses and procedures, firearms, investigation and first aid/CPR among other topics.

Price is a resident of Carroll County and he and his wife, Jesse, have three children.  That was the hardest part of the training, being away from his family, Price said.

“Our instructors had a set curriculum they had to teach us, but then they taught us a lot of things they didn’t have to,” Price added.

A typical day had class begin at 8 a.m. and often went late at night.  Price said that they had scenarios of many different situations that could be seen on the job and they were critiqued on their reactions.  Price felt that the training was realistic and worthwhile.

 “I think he will be a big asset to the office,” Sheriff Ben Smith said.  “This will be the first time we’ve been up to 100 percent of employees we’re allowed to have.  Travis will start working the night shift, because that’s when we have high activity.” 

Price and Deputy J.T. Shaw will rotate night shift duties and Smith said they would be adjusting hours as needed.  Smith said he expects to have both officers on duty on Thursday and Friday night. 

Price likes to work traffic, but he will also be responding to calls on the night shift and serving papers.  Paper service is the lifeblood of a sheriff’s office since it’s source of revenue comes from serving warrants and transporting prisoners, Smith said.

Prior to Price completing training he worked for the Sheriff’s department for three months serving papers, but he had instructions not to be the first responder, according to Smith.  He could be the second responder, but without proper training Smith did not want his new recruit in harm’s way.

Price worked for the Carroll County Detention Center before applying for the position in the Sheriff’s department. 

The Department of Criminal Justice Training is a state agency located at EKU.  Basic training is mandatory for Kentucky law enforcement officers who are required to comply with the state’s Peach Officer Professional Standards Act of 1998.

The DCJT provides basic training for city and county police officers, sheriffs’ deputies, university police, airport police and others.