The Murder of Michael Turpin | Part 1 of 2 | October 20, 2020
The Murder of Michael Turpin | Part 1 of 2 | November 3, 2020
One Night. Five Murders. | Part 1 of 2 | February 23, 2021
One Night. Five Murders. | Part 2 of 2 | March 9, 2021
The Murder of Clay Nelson | Part 1 of 2 | April 27, 2021
The Murder of Clay Nelson | Part 2 of 2 | May 11, 2021
With over 45 years of Law Enforcement experience, Fran Root served last as the Executive Director of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council.
Fran’s first career was with the Lexington Police. His last command was the Bureau of Investigation as an Assistant Chief of Police. Fran holds a BS degree in Police Administration from the Eastern Kentucky University. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Session #180.
Fran has enjoyed considerable success with multi-unit and multi-agency task force operations. He has extensive experience in the direction of Patrol Operations, but most of his police career was dedicated to criminal investigations predominately in Homicide and Narcotics. He was appointed as the first Commissioner representing the police on Lexington’s Commission on Race Relations. He also served as the coordinator of police response and service to Central Kentucky’s quickly growing Hispanic population. Other accomplishments include the implementation of Lexington’s popular bicycle patrol and the inauguration of the S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program.
Fran Root’s efforts have been recognized with numerous awards including an I.A.C.P. Webber-Seavey Award (Lexington Police), Career Professional Esteem Award, the Lexington Bar Association’s 1999 Law Day Award, Lexington’s Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and he was named Lexington’s Police Officer of the Year for 1987.
With 27 years of service to Lexington, he retired to come on board with Criminal Justice Training in July 2000. His first job with DOCJT was the start-up of the Kentucky Police Corps and has since served as the Branch Manager for Basic Training, the Skills Branch and the Advanced Individual Training Branch. Notable contributions were the implementation of Patrol Rifle and Active Shooter Response training into the Basic Training Curriculum.
Fran now enjoys his retirement living in Richmond with his English Setter Chaser. He stays active with his support of the Kentucky Law Enforcement Memorial Foundation serving as the Secretary Treasurer.