Leadership Lexington Public Safety Day: Lessons in Service, Strength, and Empathy

Photos by Mahan Multimedia

By: Cierra S. Spaulding

Public Safety Day offered the 2025–2026 Leadership Lexington class a rare behind-the-scenes look at how our city’s emergency and law enforcement agencies work together to protect, serve, and support the community. Through immersive experiences and candid conversations, participants gained new insight into the courage, complexity, and compassion that drive public safety leadership in Lexington.

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The morning began at the Lexington Fire Department Training Academy, where Fire Chief Jason Wells welcomed the group and shared how his department—the largest in Kentucky—handles more than 70,000 calls a year, most of which are medical in nature. Chief Wells outlined three key priorities guiding their work: operational efficiency, diversity and inclusion, and holistic wellness. He spoke openly about lessons learned through failure, emphasizing the importance of embracing authenticity and practicing radical transparency to meet the needs of a multigenerational workforce. His reflections revealed that firefighters do far more than respond to emergencies—they actively work to prevent them through education, equipment training, and community outreach.

​Presentations from the Division of Emergency Management and E911 highlighted the critical coordination behind emergency response. E911 Director Jonelle Patton shared innovations like Smart911, an app that provides responders with essential details before they arrive at a scene, and the addition of crisis response team members to better support individuals experiencing mental health crises. Her words underscored a theme repeated throughout the day: a deep will to serve and the importance of human connection in moments of chaos.

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At the Fayette County Detention Center, leaders discussed their focus on rehabilitation and reentry programs like AA, NA, HOPE Center partnerships, and Jubilee Jobs are designed to help individuals successfully transition back into the community. Improved morale and staffing were celebrated as signs of a system moving toward greater balance and purpose.
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The law enforcement panel brought together Chief Lawrence Weathers, Sheriff Kathy Witt, and FCPS Police Chief Martin Schafer, who modeled collaboration and transparency across agencies. From community policing to victim services and school safety, each leader emphasized the relational side of public safety—seeing individuals not just as cases or statistics, but as members of a shared community.

Afternoon breakout sessions at the Lexington Police Training Academy offered participants hands-on learning. In the Prism Simulator, leaders experienced the intense decision-making required in high-stress scenarios. At the Real Time Intelligence Center, they observed how technology, data, and accountability intersect. Encounters with the Special Operations, Mounted, and Canine units revealed how precision, preparation, and trust define every response.

​The day closed with reflection and renewed respect for the people who run toward danger when others run away. Participants left with a clearer understanding that public safety is not just a job, it’s a shared responsibility rooted in relationships, empathy, and continuous growth.
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As one participant noted, “Today humanized the people behind the uniforms and reminded us that leadership, in any field, begins with service.”

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