Local man becomes a state trooper

The Kentucky State Police Academy presented diplomas to 60 new troopers, including Billy J. Begley, 28, of Marion County, during ceremonies held in Frankfort on Sunday, Oct. 30. Their addition to the force brings the agency’s strength to a total of 914 troopers serving the citizens of the Commonwealth.
The new troopers started a 23-week training cycle on May 22, 2011 in a class that consisted of 81 cadets. Ten failed initial physical testing during the first two hours. Eleven more resigned during the weeks of constant mental and physical challenges that followed.
The training included more than 1,000 hours of classroom and field study in subjects such as constitutional law, juvenile and traffic law, use of force, weapons training, defensive tactics, first aid, high speed vehicle pursuit, criminal investigation, computer literacy, hostage negotiations, evidence collection, radio procedures, search and seizure, crash investigation, drug identification, traffic control, crowd control, armed robbery response, land navigation, electronic crimes, sex crimes, hate crimes, domestic violence, bomb threats and hazardous materials.
Begley is a 2001 graduate of Marion County High School and the son of Linda and Merle Begley of Lebanon. He also graduated from the University of Louisville in 2010 with majors in sociology and justice administration.
Begley started working Nov. 7 out of Post 16, where he will serve in Ohio and McLean counties.

Photo submitted

Marion County native Billy Begley, right, recently graduated from the Kentucky State Police Academy. He is pictured with Capt. Phil Crumpton, the commander of the academy.