The voices behind every call: UK Police Department honors communications officers
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 14, 2026) — The University of Kentucky Police Department (UKPD) is celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week by recognizing the critical work of its dedicated communications officers — the calm, steady voices behind every call.
UKPD’s Security Operations Center operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ensuring help is always just a phone call away. UKPD communications officers answer 911 and non-emergency calls, gather critical information, respond to alerts raised in the SafeZone app, coordinate police response and provide reassurance in moments of crisis. They serve as a lifeline for both the public and responding units.
“Our communications officers are the backbone of our operations,” said UK Police Chief Joe Monroe. “Their professionalism, quick thinking and compassion make a real difference every day, and we are incredibly grateful for the role they play in keeping our campus community safe.”
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is observed each April to honor the commitment, skill and resilience of communications professionals nationwide. During the week, UKPD is recognizing its telecommunications team with tokens of appreciation and expressions of gratitude from colleagues across the department.
While their work often happens behind the scenes, communications officers are an essential part of the University of Kentucky’s commitment to ensuring a safe and secure campus community.
To express appreciationto UKPD communications officers, email mandi.banahan@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.