New Program Removes Unspoken Roadblocks For Law Enforcement

Several law enforcement agencies said they hoped teamwork would make a big difference in keeping Central Kentucky safe.

Bluegrass and Central Kentucky Unified Police Protection System, or BACKUPPS, was set up to allow agencies to cross jurisdictional lines when investigating a crime.

About twenty-five agencies in fifteen counties signed on to the BACKUPPS program.

Members said the team effort was already making a big difference.

Franklin County Sheriff Pat Melton said, "It’s been fantastic already…and very humbling, to sit in a room with the chiefs and the sheriff’s that are there… talking about the things that are happening, ‘Hey, we’ve had this happen, are you all seeing it,’ and then all of a sudden, next thing you know, you’re developing suspects, you’re sharing information…it’s huge."

The 26 agencies that are part of BACKUPPS include:

Bourbon County Sheriff’s Office
Boyle County Sheriff’s Office
Clark County Sheriff’s Office
Clay City Police Department
Cynthiana Police Department
Danville Police Department
Frankfort Police Department
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Georgetown Police Department
Grant County Sheriff’s Office
Harrodsburg Police Department
Lancaster Police Department
Mercer County Sheriff’s Office
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
Mount Sterling Police Department
Nicholasville Police Department
Owen County Sheriff’s Office
Owenton Police Department
Paris Police Department
Powell County Sheriff’s Office
Scott County Sheriff’s Office
Stanton Police Department
University of Kentucky Police Department
Versailles Police Department
Winchester Police Department
Woodford County Sheriff’s Office