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City of Somerset, Kentucky

City of Somerset, Kentucky

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Somerset Police chief named Chief of the Year

Emergency Services News Police September 15, 2020

Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police surprises Hunt with award at city council meeting

The City of Somerset’s police chief has received the state’s highest professional honor in law enforcement – the 2020 Chief of the Year Award.

The award was presented to Chief William Hunt at Monday’s city council meeting by Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) Executive Director Shawn Butler, who drove three hours to surprise Hunt with the honor.

“As you all know, it’s been a tough year for all of us,” Butler said as he addressed the council, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled the organization’s annual conference. “Normally what I’m going to do here tonight we would have done at our conference about a month ago. But we made it a point that we wanted to come down here and surprise the chief.”

Nominated by Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, Hunt’s lengthy list of accomplishments in just three short years, his dedication to supporting his officers, his involvement in the community and his advocacy for his profession drove his selection for the award, Butler said.

Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Shawn Butler presents Somerset Police Chief William Hunt with the 2020 Chief of the Year Award.

“You guys are lucky,” Butler told the council. “I know he hasn’t been a chief for a long time, but I was a chief for 15 years and I don’t think … I was involved in that much. So for the short time he’s been in your community, I’d say you’re very blessed.”

In his nomination letter, Keck commended Hunt for his leadership in the community, in adding new positions and advocating for departmental pay increases and equipment and vehicle upgrades.

“Chief Hunt is truly a servant leader who has propelled the Somerset Police Department to one of the best in the state,” Keck wrote. “Chief Hunt’s implementation of community-oriented policing has been an amazing model for our community. He is incredibly active with our community events and present in arenas that many would want to avoid. His leadership is disarming and uniting, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

In addition to his 24 years serving the department, Hunt has led the city’s police force since January 2017, at which time it was understaffed with only 31 officers. Since then, the department has reached a full staff level and Hunt has added another seven positions, including two school resource officers, two narcotics officers, two detectives and two patrol officers. He has negotiated three departmental pay increases, started a new K-9 patrol program and a narcotics unit. Hunt also purchased the region’s first 3-D Scanner Total Station, which is beneficial for crime scenes and accidents. “It’s a high-tech piece of equipment and they’re very hard to come by, so that in itself is a great accomplishment for your region,” Butler said.

In addition to replacing a majority of the department’s vehicle fleet and securing funds to implement a new digital radio system for all cars and officers, Hunt has implemented several community programs, including the Shepherds Watch Crime Prevention Program, which embraces video surveillance technology and community participation to deter crime and accelerate solving it when it happens; and the Shop with a Cop program, which helps purchase Christmas gifts for children in need and builds relationships between police and community members.

Hunt is an honor graduate of the United States Air Force Police Academy. He holds a Police Instructor’s Certificate and a Law Enforcement Executive Certificate from the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council and is a member of the Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee Executive Board for Robert Duncan, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Kentucky. He is chair of the Lake Cumberland Area Drug Task Force and serves as the second vice president of KACP.

Hunt thanked his wife, Carla, and family for supporting his career endeavors, and the mayor and council for allowing him to help the department thrive in such a short amount of time.

“Probably the most important to thank is the Somerset Police Department,” Hunt said. “And I’m not talking about the building, I’m not talking about the cars you see out there. I’m talking about the men and women who put the uniform on every day to serve this community and are willing to give everything they have for this community.

“Our work here is only getting started,” he said.

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Somerset - The Spirit of Southern Kentucky
  • Residents
    • Health & Wellness
      • Parks & Recreation
      • Healthy Somerset
    • Emergency Services
      • Fire
      • Police
      • EMS
    • Utilities
      • Water & Wastewater
      • Gas
      • Pay your bill / Sign up for service
    • Public Works
      • Fuel Center
      • Streets
      • Sanitation & Recycling
      • Cemetery
    • Enforcement
      • Ordinance Enforcement
      • Building Inspection
    • Public Records Search
    • Pay Property Taxes
    • Pay Utility Bill
  • Government
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      • Gas
      • Somerset Utilities
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      • EMS
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Contact

City Hall / Energy Center
306 E. Mt. Vernon
Somerset, KY 42501

PO Box 989
Somerset, KY 42502

606-679-6366
[email protected]

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Parking Tickets

Parking tickets may be paid in the Office of the City Clerk at 306 E. Mt. Vernon St. or mailed in the original citation envelope. Checks should be made payable to “City of Somerset.” Failure to comply with the citations within seven (7) days will result in the fine being doubled. Failure to pay within 30 days will result in a citation to Pulaski District Court. If convicted in District Court there will be an additional court cost of up to or more than $100. The registered owner of a vehicle at the time of the violation shall be liable for all fines. Fees subject to change without notice.

Parking Fines

Parking over designated time: $5
Parking on painted curb: $5
Loading zone: $5
Double parking: $5
Blocking driveway: $5
Parking on wrong side of street: $5
Parking in fire lane: $10
Parking on sidewalk: $10
Parking at fire plug: $10
Parking in handicapped space $25