The Making of the Marshal
Retired State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox talks about the 2024 school safety report, being an SRO, a career of firsts, and being responsible for Kentucky’s kids. He also gives advice for future successors and a final message to law enforcement, teachers, and families as he prepares to start his retirement.
View the school safety report here.
Read more about the Office of the State School Security Marshal here.
About Our Guest
Ben Wilcox, Retired Kentucky State School Security Marshal
Ben Wilcox began his career at the Department of Criminal Justice Training in 2004 and served as the State School Security Marshal, an office created in 2019 after the passage of the School Safety and Resiliency Act until his retirement on September 1, 2024.
Prior to that, Wilcox was the supervisor of the Instructional Design section, where he was responsible for all testing, curriculum, lesson plans, and instructional material at the agency. He also worked as an instructor in the Driving, Firearms, and Coordination sections.
Before coming to DOCJT, Wilcox spent six years with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office as a deputy and school resource officer working with students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
During his law enforcement career, Wilcox served as the President of the EKU Association of Law Enforcement from 1997-1998, was honored with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Deputy of the Year award in 2001, and was nominated for DOCJT’s Instructor of the Year award in 2009 and 2014.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in police administration and a master’s degree in career and technical education, with a concentration in occupational training and development, both from Eastern Kentucky University.
Wilcox and his wife Angie have two daughters, Alexandria and Addison.
The Bluegrass Beat is recorded and produced by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training’s Public Information Office, a proud member of Team Kentucky.
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Music by Digital Juice and StackTraxx.
