The star of and inspiration for the television series Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda on Investigation Discovery will speak at the STN EXPO this summer about his experiences as a school bus driver.
Kenda is better known to television fans in 150 countries for solving 92 percent of the 387 homicide cases assigned to him during his 25-year career in law enforcement, as well as his deadpan recollections of macabre to downright odd murder investigations. During his career, he served as a detective, detective sergeant, detective lieutenant and finally commander of the Major Crimes Unit for the Colorado Springs Police Department.
Upon retirement, he became a school bus driver for nearby Falcon School District 49. Kenda’s wife, Kathy, also worked at Falcon as a registered nurse and a special needs transportation paraprofessional, said Brian Vasina, a former master school bus technician at the district and currently a student transportation analyst at the Colorado Department of Education.
Despite loving his job driving students, he said Hollywood came calling when a producer offered him his own TV show, which recently wrapped its fifth season on Investigation Discovery. But with yellow still coursing in his veins, he will take the time out from his busy schedule to speak to STN EXPO attendees on how his experiences on the police force helped prepare him for his career behind the wheel.
“Your audience would be most interested in my experience as a special needs driver in a rural school district in Colorado. The standard career path of police, bus driver, followed by international TV star. Like so many others. Or maybe not,” Kenda said with a laugh.
In all seriousness, Kenda is a hardened expert in safety and security. He is a Colorado state certified instructor in criminal investigations, advanced criminal investigations, multi-jurisdictional investigations, patrol operations and specialized patrol operations.
The date and time of Kenda’s session has yet to be determined. Check stnexpo.com for updates.
