Law enforcement leaders want constables trained

PADUCAH, Ky. - The Kentucky Sheriff's Association and the Kentucky Constables Association are lobbying the legislature to require law enforcement training for the state's 454 constables.

The Paducah Sun reports the constables association offers monthly trainings for its 176 members, but other constables never receive any training. That's despite the fact that they have the same authority as a sheriff's deputy.

The problem was highlighted earlier this month when a Graves County constable was charged with wanton endangerment for using his vehicle to force a traffic stop.

The woman he stopped was a mother and grandmother who had two children in the car and she complained about the stop to the Graves County Sheriff's Department.

Jeffrey Burnett is free on $25,000 bond. He will continue to serve as a constable.