Paducah Police Foundation

05/18/2026

We were honored to be able to provide a meal to the Paducah Police Department in recognition of National Police Week last week! Thank you to each and every one of you for your service and dedication to our community!

05/15/2026

Earlier this week, some of our board members were able to stop by the Paducah Police Department during National Police Week to thank officers, dispatchers, and staff for their dedicated service to our community. As an added bonus: Board members were also able to test out the newly-delivered driving simulator! It is exciting to hear about the many ways it's already being used by the department! Thank you again to the donors who supported this project!

05/13/2026

At last night’s City Commission meeting, Mayor George Bray presented a proclamation to Police Chief Brian Laird and several Paducah Police Department Kentucky officers in attendance declaring May 10 through 16 as National Police Week and further proclaiming May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day.

National Police Week is observed annually in the United States to honor the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers who protect our communities with courage, integrity, and commitment. It also serves as a reminder for all of us to show our appreciation and support for the officers who work every day to keep our neighborhoods safe and to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

05/06/2026

THANK YOU! Because of our amazing donors and supporters, we are excited to announce that we've officially met our fundraising goal for a new driving simulator for the Paducah Police Department! With 87 unique donations from businesses, groups, families, and individuals, we were able to meet our goal in just 6 months, showcasing the tremendous community support for our Paducah Police Department. The driving simulator is scheduled to be delivered to the Department this month, providing further training opportunities for officers, enhancing driving skills and promoting safety. Thank you again to all those who continue to support this Foundation, maintaining its success over the past 11 years and counting! We couldn't do it without you!

05/04/2026

The Paducah Police Foundation is proud to continue supporting the Cultural Leadership Academy for Paducah Police officers. The Foundation has provided funding for CLA since it began. Congratulations to this year's graduates!

Please join us in celebrating the graduation of the officers in the 11th cohort of the Paducah Police Department’s Cultural Leadership Academy.

Now in its 11th year, the academy consists of eight classroom blocks spread over two semesters, along with field assignments. With this class, more than 65 Paducah Police officers have completed the program.

The academy was established in 2016 through a partnership between the Paducah Police Department and Murray State University’s College of Education and Human Services. The program provides advanced training focused on diversity awareness and is funded through the Paducah Police Foundation. Murray State University faculty members Dr. Teresa Clark and Dr. Landon Clark serve as co-organizers and lead the program.

Pictured:
Front Row – Dr. Teresa Clark, Chief of Police Brian Laird, Dr. Landon Clark
Second Row – Det. Samantha Taylor, Officer Matthew Crisman, Officer Brooke Adams
Back Row – Officer Noah Willett, Officer Mark Brooks, Officer Alex Whitworth, Officer Benjamin Anthony

04/27/2026

The latest Ponderings from Paducah is from Police Chief Brian Laird who explains the project to upgrade the 911 radio communication system and the benefits for the community.
Read all the Ponderings: paducahky.gov/ponderings

911 Radio Upgrade Project

Paducah-McCracken County 911 is in final stages of completing a major overhaul to its radio communication system. This is the largest upgrade to public safety communications in Paducah and McCracken County since the original 800mhz system was installed more than 30 years ago. This upgrade will make a real difference for the first responders serving this community.

The new system offers expanded county-wide coverage through five strategically placed tower sites (currently operating with one tower) throughout McCracken County. Police officers, firefighters and all other first responders are now able to use hand-held radios from anywhere in the county to talk to dispatch. This means our first responders are safer and allows for better coordination between agencies.

The new digital technology results in clearer audio and fewer dropped transmissions. In high-stress emergencies, clarity matters. Dispatchers and first responders will not need to repeat themselves or guess what was said. Information gets through accurately the first time, leading to quicker, better decisions.

Encrypted radio transmissions are also part of the upgrade. Some may miss listening to scanners, but encryption offers three important protections for the community:
• Officer safety: Criminals will no longer be able to listen to police movements, set ambushes, destroy evidence, or track the locations of officers.
• Victim privacy: Sensitive information such as names, addresses, social security numbers, birthdates, medical conditions, and details of traumatic incidents stays protected. Victims of serious incidents and people in crisis will no longer have their worst moments broadcast in real time for anyone to hear.
• Accurate public information: Reduced misinformation. No misunderstood scanner radio traffic will help prevent rumors and confusion.

The upgraded system is highly resilient and disaster ready. If one tower site goes down, communications automatically reroute through the remaining sites. During disasters or major events, the system is designed to keep working. Beyond built-in console redundancy, mobile backup units can be deployed if the main system fails completely. Even in a worst-case scenario, such as a total power loss, 911 will remain operational, and citizens can still call for help.

This system meets or exceeds national standards for public safety communications and the industry benchmarks for reliability and interoperability. The system is designed to perform at the highest level and integrates seamlessly with regional and federal partners during major incidents. Our first responders now have clear, reliable communication anywhere in the county. The radio network is resilient, protects sensitive information and will help keep our first responders safe as they serve our community for years to come.

(Written by Paducah Police Chief Brian Laird)

04/13/2026

A huge thank you - this week and always - to this incredible dispatch team!

This week is National Telecommunicators Week!

If you've ever called 911, you've talked to someone who showed up for their shift ready to handle your worst day. Our dispatchers take hundreds of calls, coordinate multiple units, and keep their composure through things most people will never hear. They don't get the lights and sirens. They don't get the parade. But they're the reason help gets there.

We want our 911 Team to know that we appreciate their hard work every single day.

04/03/2026

Congrats to board member Penrod Cappock on his recent graduation from the Citizens’ Police Academy! Great work, great program!

The 29th Session of the Paducah Police Department Citizens’ Police Academy is officially in the books! This class brought the energy, stayed engaged, and made the entire program stronger from start to finish.

Thank you to our instructors for delivering solid, hands-on training, and thank you to every participant for helping make this session a true success. We’re fortunate to have a community that shows up and supports us, and we appreciate everyone who made Session 29 outstanding.

03/24/2026

We haven't provided a fundraising update in a while, so here it is! We are SO CLOSE!

As of today, we are 98% of the way towards our goal for the new driving simulator! That means we only have $1,500 left to raise to fully fund this technology for our Paducah Police Department! Can you help get us there?

Donations accepted via mailed check or can be made online: https://www.paducahpolicefoundation.org/donate-today.html

03/04/2026

Amazing! Thank you all for your dedication to our community!