POLICE STEERING COMMITTEE
January 27, 2026 6:00 PM
Location: St. Matthews City Hall (2nd Floor Conference Room)
3940 Grandview Ave.
Minutes
1. Called the Meeting to Order: Chief Barry Wilkerson (Chair) called the meeting to order at 6:03 P.M.
2. Roll Call – Chief Barry S. Wilkerson, Major Leon E. Jones (absent), Jr, Major Anthony J. Cobaugh (absent), Mayor Richard J. Tonini, Councilmember Benard F. Bowling, Jr.(absent), Councilmember Timothy Holland
Also in attendance: Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
3. Approval of Minutes (1/13/2026)
a. Councilmember Holland made a motion to accept the minutes.
b. Second: Mayor Tonini
c. Vote: Motion carried unanimously
4. New Business
a. Personnel– Kenneth Corman will start February 1, 2026. Another officer will be assigned to detective duties. The city did well during the snowstorm. Some dispatchers stayed at a local hotel at a discounted rate to be available for work.
b. Crime –The number of TBUTs increased after overtime was stopped. A human trafficking intervention class was cancelled.
c. Equipment – The department is looking at first responder drones tied to CAD. They would be the same as those used by LMPD. There is a grant available for a free new Bearcat. This armored rescue vehicle is smaller than the M-wrap. If granted to the city, other agencies would have access to it. A StarChase tracker is an alternative to high pursuit chases. From a vehicle mounted launcher, a GPS tracker is deployed onto the suspect’s vehicle. The officer can use software to track where the vehicle goes without having to pursue it at a high speed. The department is investigating this technology.
5. Events – SMPD Awards Banquet is February 28, 2026. Approximately 10-12 awards will be given.
6. Meeting Adjournment
a. Motion: Councilmember Holland made a motion to adjourn the meeting.
b. Second: Mayor Tonini
c. Vote: The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting concluded at 6:39 P.M.
Barry S. Wilkerson, Chief of Police, Chair
Attest:
Judi Kassebaum, City Clerk
