The Lexington Police Department is remembering and honoring one of their own, retired officer Norman "Bee" Allen. Allen passed away on February 4, 2022, at 79, leaving behind a legacy that won't be forgotten. Norman Allen served Kentucky as a law enforcement officer for 50 years and was a trailblazer for African-Americans in the profession.
Allen began his law enforcement career in 1967 with the Paris Police Department, where he was one of the first African-Americans in the department. While working in Paris, he was awarded the Kentucky Admiral Award for assisting in capturing the murderer of State Trooper John Conley.
In 1975 Allen joined the Lexington Police Department. During his time, he worked in the Detectives Bureau and was a member of the Hostage Negotiation Team. Allen would continue to serve until he retired in 2000 after 25 years of service. However, Norman Allen's law enforcement career did not end there. After his retirement, Allen joined the Fayette County Sheriff's Department as a court bailiff before retiring in 2007.
In 2007 he returned home to Paris, Kentucky, where he joined the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office as a part-time security officer until his final retirement from law enforcement in 2017. He was the first African-American to be hired by the Bourbon County Sheriff's Office.
In addition to his time with local departments, Allen served as a member of the Keeneland Security Team from 1992 to 2017 and also a deputy warden at Blackburn Correctional Institute.
