Deputy Commissioner, Training Director Named for Department of Criminal Justice Training
On Wednesday, Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Commissioner Nicolai Jilek announced the appointments of John Schwartz as Deputy Commissioner and Frank Kubala, Ed.D., as Director of Training Operations at the law enforcement training academy.
“John Schwartz and Frank Kubala have a remarkable foundation in law enforcement,” said Commissioner Jilek. “Their reputations across the state are rock solid and were built over years of commitment to policing. I am incredibly excited to have these gentlemen join me in leading DOCJT forward.”
Commissioner Jilek has appointed John Schwartz as Deputy Commissioner of DOCJT.
Deputy Commissioner, John Schwartz
Since 2018, Schwartz has served as staff assistant assigned to the Commissioner’s Office. During his 15-year tenure, he has held several titles within the agency, including Assistant Director of Training Operations, Basic Training Branch Manager, Supervisor of General Studies Section and DUI Enforcement Section, as well as an instructor for the Advanced Individual Training Branch, where he taught courses in criminal investigation, interview and interrogation, homicide investigation techniques and cold case investigation.
“I am grateful to Gov. Beshear, Justice & Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Mary Noble, and DOCJT Commissioner Jilek for allowing me the opportunity to continue to serve the Department of Criminal Justice Training, and Kentucky law enforcement, as the deputy commissioner of this great agency,” said Schwartz. “I will assist the commissioner in ensuring that the agency continues to provide the best training possible to our clients. I will also remain available as a resource to all law enforcement leaders across the Commonwealth.”
Before joining DOCJT, Schwartz served and retired from the New York Police Department at the rank of Detective First Grade after a 20-year career. Thirteen of those years were spent as a detective assigned to various units, including patrol, plainclothes and robbery. His final eight years at NYPD were spent working in homicide squads in Brooklyn South and the Bronx.
Schwartz earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in criminal justice, with a concentration in justice administration, from Tiffin University. He also is a graduate of the Criminal Justice Executive Development Class XVIII.
Commissioner Jilek has appointed Frank Kubala, Ed.D., as Director of Training Operations at the law enforcement training academy.
Director of Training, Frank Kubala
A 22-year veteran of DOCJT, Kubala has served in a variety of leadership roles: Investigator for the Compliance and Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapons Section, Staff Assistant, Assistant Director of Training Operations, Advanced Individual Training Branch Manager, Supervisor of Investigation and the Physical Training and Defensive Tactics sections. Kubala also spent time as an instructor and taught a range of topics including physical training, defensive tactics, first aid, investigations and patrol. Outside of DOCJT instruction, Kubala aided in the establishment of Kentucky’s Peace Officer Professional Standards by assisting in the field-testing which is used as part of today’s requirements.
“It is an honor to serve our staff and clients in this new role,” Kubala said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead the training division. I look forward to working with our great staff to continue advancing the quality of training in all areas.”
Prior to his career in state government, Kubala served with the Lexington Police Department from September 1992 to June 1998 as a patrol officer and a crimes against children detective. He served his hometown of Hollywood, Florida, from March 1987 to Sept. 1992, where he worked in patrol, a street crimes unit and on a SWAT team. Kubala earned a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice from Florida International University and a Master of Science degree in safety and security from Eastern Kentucky University. In addition, he obtained a Doctorate of Education in leadership and policy studies from EKU. Kubala has served as an adjunct professor at EKU since 2004.