The agreement allows DOCJT employees and their immediate family members to receive scholarship support through LWU educational outreach programming.
by Venus Popplewell
COLUMBIA, KY (05/07/2026) COLUMBIA, KY. – The Department of Criminal Justice Training and Lindsey Wilson University announced an agreement on Tuesday, May 5, to expand educational opportunities for employees of the state agency.
The agreement, announced at the training center in Richmond, Kentucky, allows DOCJT employees and their immediate family members to receive scholarship support through Lindsey Wilson University’s educational outreach programs.
“We’re committed to training and education, so this is the second piece of that,” said DOCJT Deputy Commissioner Brian Bowling. “We provide basic training for our new recruits and ongoing training for our police officers who are in the field. We are also constantly looking for opportunities to provide education for our staff, and this partnership gives us that opportunity.”
The partnership allows part-time and full-time DOCJT employees to pursue a degree through Lindsey Wilson University by attending classes online or at one of the university’s extended campuses. Under the agreement, DOCJT employees and their immediate family members are eligible for scholarship support to attend Lindsey Wilson.
The academic programs in LWU Educational Outreach are offered in traditional, online and hybrid formats.
According to Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr., extending the agreement is both a privilege and an opportunity for Lindsey Wilson University to support Kentucky’s law enforcement officers and their families through expanded access to education.
“First of all, we’re excited to help first responders gain greater access to education opportunities,” said Luckey. “We understand the importance of mental health and criminal justice training, and this partnership is a meaningful opportunity to better serve Kentucky and our communities by helping ensure people are better trained and educated.”
The Department of Criminal Justice Training is Kentucky’s state-of-the-art facility, providing basic and advanced training for law enforcement officers and telecommunicators across the commonwealth. Through the DOCJT, thousands of individuals across Kentucky receive academy training, leadership development, annual in-service education and specialized instruction.
Lindsey Wilson Assistant Vice President of Educational Outreach Tommie Ann Saragas said many of Lindsey Wilson’s online degree programs are well-suited to meet the workforce needs of Kentucky’s public safety agencies.
“We offer degree programs that can benefit DOCJT staff in a variety of areas, including mental and behavioral health, criminal justice, business, communication, cybersecurity, data management and data science,” Saragas said.
Beyond the scholarship, students enrolled in Lindsey Wilson University online undergraduate or graduate programs – or attending through one of the university’s extended campus locations – will also receive free continuing education units and free admission to the university’s mental health symposium. In addition, DOCJT students may also qualify for Lindsey Wilson’s first responder scholarship.
“This partnership between Lindsey Wilson University and the DOCJT creates new opportunities for both our students and the families who serve communities across the commonwealth,” said Hannah Coyt, partnership liaison and Lindsey Wilson assistant director of graduate counseling programs. “By providing scholarship support and building pathways to internships and careers, we’re helping connect education with meaningful public service.”
Brian Bowling, Department of Criminal Justice Training Deputy Commissioner, left, and William T. Luckey Jr., Lindsey Wilson University President, sign a partnership agreement on Tuesday, May 5, to expand educational opportunities for employees of DOCJT. The agreement, announced at the training center in Richmond, Kentucky, allows DOCJT employees and their immediate family members to receive scholarship support through Lindsey Wilson University’s educational outreach programs offered in traditional, online or hybrid formats.
The Department of Criminal Justice Training and Lindsey Wilson University announce a partnership agreement to expand educational opportunities for employees of DOCJT. Standing, from left: Lindsey Wilson University Assistant Vice President of Educational Outreach Tommie Ann Saragas; LIndsey Wilson Assistant Director of Graduate Counseling Programs Hannah Coyt; Executive Vice President for Student Services and Enrollment Management Dean Adams; and DOCJT Director of Training Operations David Hay. Sitting, from left: DOCJT Deputy Commissioner Brian Bowling and Lindsey Wilson President William T. Luckey Jr.
Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 30 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university’s 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.
(Venus Popplewell – Lindsey Wilson University)