In a profession built on dedication, courage, and resilience, Officer Travis McGlothin of the Cynthiana Police Department recently added another powerful trait to his toolkit: perseverance in education. Through the City of Cynthiana’s Employee Educational Assistance Program, Officer McGlothin earned his Associate’s Degree—balancing the demands of policing, fatherhood, and schoolwork with determination and grit.
For McGlothin, the path to public service began not with law enforcement in mind, but with a dream of joining the military. “I originally wanted to be in the military,” he explained. “But I have really bad eyesight and a perforated eardrum… so I thought, well, can’t do the military, don’t want to spend my whole life farming… so I ended up applying and it was sheer luck that I got picked the first time I applied within the agency.”
Now with over seven years in law enforcement—and about a year and a half back on duty in Cynthiana—McGlothin has developed a particular interest in investigative work and crisis intervention. “I’ve always been focused more on the detective side of things,” he shared, “but coming back I have also taken up a knack for our Crisis Intervention Training… I could make a big difference when someone’s really going through a bad crisis.”
When the opportunity arose to finish his Associate’s Degree, McGlothin embraced it. “When we graduate from the Academy, we’re only a few credits short,” he said. “I had to have Writing 101—which I completed in high school, the History of Kentucky, Sociology—which I really enjoyed because it ties into my CIT stuff—and Statistics.”
But for McGlothin, the pursuit of higher education wasn’t just about checking a box. It was about legacy. “On a deeper level than just the pay raise, I’ve always wanted to go back and have a degree,” he said. “As far as my immediate family, nobody has a college degree. But also, for my kids… I can look them in the eyes when they’re in college and say, ‘You can do it. You can get through this.’”
Balancing schoolwork with shift work and parenting wasn’t easy. “It was tricky, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “On my off days I had my kids… I wanted to be a dad. There were a lot of times after my little girls went to bed, I was pushing out some college work.”
He credits his success in part to the encouragement and flexibility offered by his colleagues and leadership. “Both the Chiefs and the Social Worker, Caity, were super supportive. Even the guys at the PD—Bruce Hampton worked the same shift, and there were times he’d ask me, ‘Do you have an exam? I’ve got this call.’ Bruce had my back.”
Even tough classes became sources of professional insight. “Statistics was extremely hard,” he laughed, “but I learned how to apply it to work life—like breaking down how many calls were CIT calls or how often a technique worked. It made me think more analytically.”
Looking ahead, McGlothin hopes to continue his education in a way that aligns with his work and benefits the community. “I want to sit down with our Social Worker and Assistant Chief Peak and Chief Kendall… I want it to benefit my department and the city as well.”
To his fellow city employees, he offers this advice: “Get out of your comfort zone… You can always expand your knowledge and your abilities. Taking the classes could open up numerous doors and opportunities.”
Reflecting on his journey, he beams with pride. “I stepped out of my comfort zone, and I succeeded. I passed everything with all A’s.”
And to anyone who thinks it’s too late to go back to school? McGlothin leaves no room for doubt:
“I was always told it’s never too late. Just stop being comfortable with how life is. There’s so much more you can do. You can excel anywhere that you want to. You just have to have faith in yourself.”
Officer McGlothin’s story is a testament to what’s possible when dedication meets opportunity. His journey reminds us all that growth doesn’t stop at graduation—it’s a lifelong pursuit fueled by purpose, courage, and heart.