FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky State Police is asking the public to vote for its entry in the 2026 American Association of State Troopers' Best Looking Cruiser Contest, a nationwide competition that showcases law enforcement vehicles from across the country.
Gov. Andy Beshear and KSP announced Monday that Kentucky's entry features a 2024 Mustang GT cruiser photographed outside the Kentucky State Police Academy in Frankfort. The winning photo will appear on the cover of the association's 2027 calendar.
"The men and women of the Kentucky State Police represent the very best of public service," Beshear said in a statement. "I encourage every Kentuckian to show their support by voting in this national contest."
According to KSP, the photo highlights the dedication and training required to become a state trooper while also honoring the agency's fallen officers.
The image includes "The Trooper," a nearly 10-foot bronze statue outside the academy unveiled in 2015. The statue was created in the likeness of Trooper James W. McNeely, who drowned during a rescue mission on the Kentucky River in 1972. His body was never recovered.
Kentucky State Police has lost 39 troopers, officers and patrolmen in the line of duty.
"This year's contest photo symbolizes what it means to be a Kentucky State Police trooper, by showcasing the devotion, hard work, commitment and sacrifice that our troopers give to their local communities daily," KSP Commissioner Phillip Burnett Jr. said. "We would be humbled and honored to have your vote and support on social media."
Kentucky has finished among the top five entries in each of the past eight years and won the contest in both 2021 and 2022. The Florida Highway Patrol won the 2025 competition.
Public voting is open through noon EDT on Friday, July 10. Voters may cast one vote per device by visiting surveymonkey.com/r/2026bestlookingcruiser and scrolling to the bottom of the page.
