Bluegrass Beat

Crime doesn’t stop at city or county lines — and effective public safety can’t either.
In this episode of the Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King Smith explores the Bluegrass and Central Kentucky Unified Police Protection System (BACKUPPS), a statewide cooperative program designed to help law enforcement agencies work together across jurisdictions.
First, BACKUPPS Chairman and Georgetown Police Chief Darin Allgood breaks down how the program works today, including governance, standard operating procedures, training, and what agencies need to know about joining. He also addresses common questions about communication, accountability and operating in another agency’s jurisdiction.
Then, Commissioner Mike Bosse, who helped write the original framework for BACKUPPS in 2014, reflects on the program’s creation and history. He discusses why cooperation is essential to modern policing, the importance of setting aside egos and “kingdoms,” and how unified leadership ultimately strengthens public safety for both officers and the communities they serve.
Together, these conversations highlight why collaboration, shared training and a common mission are critical tools in keeping Kentucky safe.
About our Guests
Darin Allgood, BACKUPPS Chairman & Georgetown Police Chief
Chief Allgood was appointed Chief of Police on January 13, 2023, and has served the department since 2012. He held various ranks during his tenure, including assistant chief of police, police captain, Criminal Investigations Section (CIS) lieutenant, CIS sergeant, administrative sergeant, CIS detective, and police officer. Chief Allgood has also worked for the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond, Kentucky, and for the Huntersville, North Carolina Police Department, where he began his law enforcement career in 1995.
Chief Allgood earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Western Carolina University and a master’s in safety, security and emergency management from Eastern Kentucky University. Chief Allgood is a graduate of the Academy of Police Supervision and the FBI National Academy, Class 284.
Chief Allgood is a certified instructor through the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and has taught classes for the Department of Criminal Justice Training and Georgetown College. He has also served as a facilitator/adjunct professor at EKU, teaching classes in the Safety, Security, and Emergency Management program.

Mike Bosse, DOCJT Commissioner
Mike Bosse was appointed commissioner of the Department of Criminal Justice Training by Gov. Andy Beshear on Nov. 1, 2024. He joined DOCJT in March 2024 as deputy commissioner and served in Kentucky law enforcement for over 41 years. He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with High Distinction, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Police Administration.
Bosse served as Georgetown Police chief for 10 years. Prior to this appointment, he spent 30 years with the Lexington Division of Police, where he moved through the ranks of patrolman, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major and retired at the rank of assistant chief of police. Bosse spent a total of 12 years working in the Bureau of Investigations with the Lexington Division of Police, working most of that time in Special Investigations.
In addition to his undercover and supervisory experience in narcotics investigations, he spent 20 years working with Kentucky’s drug courts, five years working a drug detection K-9, five years as a board member of the Fayette County ASAP Board, three years as chairman of the Mayor’s Alliance on Substance Abuse. He has served as a member of Scott County Against Drugs board, has been a member of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals Law Enforcement Committee and was appointed to the NADCP Board of Directors, which conducts research and provides training to our nation’s drug courts.
Bosse is a certified instructor for the Department of Criminal Justice Training and is recognized by both Federal and State courts as an expert in police administration, including the use of force by police. Bosse has reviewed thousands of uses of force by police and has prepared reports in state and federal courts on over 50 occasions. Bosse was appointed to the Board of Licensure for Private Investigators by Governor Steve Beshear in 2014.
Bosse graduated from the FBI National Academy in 2000 and has conducted numerous leadership trainings around the country. He served as a member of Kentucky Law Enforcement Council for 7 years where he chaired the Professional Standards Committee for 4 years.
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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 first episode of 2026, Special Assistant Amy Hess discusses what can be expected from the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training in the new year.
Featured Guest
Amy Hess, DOCJT Special Assistant
With nearly 35 years of experience in public safety, Amy Hess has held leadership roles across federal, state, and local government. She currently serves as special assistant in Kentucky’s Department of Criminal Justice Training, after holding the position of executive advisor in the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. As Chief of Public Safety for Louisville Metro Government, she played a key role in the city’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest in 2020-2021. For 29 years before that, Ms. Hess was a Special Agent and senior executive in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assignments in Kansas City, Louisville, Tucson, Afghanistan, Memphis, Quantico, and Washington, D.C. Her FBI career culminated with promotion to Special Agent in Charge of two field offices and Executive Assistant Director over two branches at FBI headquarters. She resides in Louisville and holds a degree in Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University
Learn More
Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training
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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 special episode of The Bluegrass Beat, host Critley King-Smith explores Project Heart Restart, an initiative working to place automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in every police cruiser across the Commonwealth of Kentucky.
Hear how this mission is already saving lives, and why AED access in cruisers can change outcomes for families and communities across the state.
Featured Guests
Josh Vogel & Matt Mangine — Project Heart Restart
Lucas Cooper — Alexandria Police Chief
Whitney Buerger — Former Alexandria Police Officer who saved a young man's life just two days after her agency received an AED
This emotional and inspiring episode highlights the power of preparedness, partnership, and purpose.
Learn More
Project Heart Restart
https://projectheartrestart.org/
Matthew Mangine Jr. One Shot Foundation
https://www.oneshot.life/
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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/Sounds:
"Cold Funk" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
"Parting of the Ways - Part 1" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Clock Ticking Down - Dragon Studio via Pixabay
Heartbeat with Beep - Freesound Community via Pixabay

Raising salaries and increasing in-service options are discussed as Commissioner Mike Bosse returns to the Bluegrass Beat and Director of Training Operations David Hay makes his first appearance.
For more information, follow this link, https://www.docjt.ky.gov/, and select the Training tab.
Look for the 2026 Course Book to be released soon.
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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 the Bluegrass Beat, meet new State School Security Marshal Shannon West and hear about his background, his hopes for the office, his team, and his mission of keeping kids safe.
Click the link below for more information about the Office of the State School Security Marshal.
https://www.docjt.ky.gov/state-school-security-marshal

ABOUT OUR GUEST
SHANNON WEST, STATE SCHOOL SECURITY MARSHAL
Shannon West was appointed as Kentucky’s State School Security Marshal by Governor Andy Beshear on July 16, 2025. With more than 30 years of dedicated service in public safety, West brings extensive leadership, operational and training experience to the role overseeing the safety and security of Kentucky’s schools.
A veteran of the United States Army and the Kentucky Army National Guard, Shannon served a combined nine years in uniform before joining the Kentucky State Police (KSP). During his 20-plus years with KSP, he held several key positions, including trooper, Special Response Team (SRT) leader, detective sergeant, and investigations commander. His assignments spanned multiple posts in Mayfield, Bowling Green, Henderson, Pikeville, Richmond (SRT) and Elizabethtown—culminating in his retirement as a lieutenant from his home post in Bowling Green.
In July 2015, West joined the Department of Criminal Justice Training (DOCJT) as a law enforcement training instructor. He advanced to become the Tactics Section Supervisor, where he oversaw specialized instruction in active shooter response, traffic stop and counter-ambush tactics, structure searches, low-light operations, warrant service, tactical medicine, and other high-risk operational skills. For the two years leading up to his appointment as marshal, West served as the In-Service Branch manager, overseeing statewide training programs for Kentucky’s law enforcement officers.
West holds multiple advanced certifications, including Force Science Analyst and Advanced Specialist, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Use-of-Force Instructor, and Centrifuge Vehicle Close Quarters Battle (CQB) Instructor.
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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.7
Have a suggestion? Email host Critley King-Smith at [email protected] to share feedback.
Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.