Morehead, Ky. – Kentucky State Police is honoring its first female trooper during Women’s History Month, recognizing a career that helped shape modern law enforcement in the state.
According to Kentucky State Police, Sandra “Schonecker” Taylor graduated from Cadet Class 57 on Dec. 22, 1978, becoming the first woman to serve as a Kentucky State Police trooper. At age 30, she began her career at the Morehead Post before transferring to the Dry Ridge Post.
KSP said Taylor later promoted to detective and transferred to Auto Theft Investigations, where she discovered her calling. During her first year, she made nearly half-a-million dollars in vehicle recoveries — more than the rest of the agency combined at the time, according to the department.
She also spent six years assigned to an undercover unit. In 1983, Taylor conducted a months-long undercover investigation in Harlan County involving the bombings of coal tipples. The operation led to the apprehension of several fugitives described by officials as among the region’s most dangerous at the time.
Taylor retired as a detective in 1993. She died on Jan. 9, 2021, following a battle with multiple sclerosis.
In a statement shared by KSP, Taylor once said she took pride in becoming the first woman trooper, adding that she “knew all along that I could do it.”
Her legacy continues to resonate with young women considering careers in law enforcement across Kentucky.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input.
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