Peter O. Samples, Founder and State Chairman
Peter O. Samples, Founder and State Chairman
Peter O. Samples holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Thomas More College, Crestview Hills, KY, and two Master of Science Degrees in the Administration of Justice & Law and Public Administration respectively from the University of Louisville’s School of Justice and School of Community Development. He is a resident of Pendleton County, Kentucky, and a native of Corbin, Kentucky. Mr. Samples founded the KY Multi-County Task Forces on Child Abuse & Exploitation Prevention, Inc., in January, 1985. Literally working from the trunk of his car, Samples initially headed up a two-year, three-county pilot project to prevent child abuse, neglect and exploitation in Bracken, Pendleton and Grant counties. He accomplished this with the assistance of then Kentucky Attorney General, David L. Armstrong. Samples expanded the Task Forces in 1987 to a statewide effort including services to all 120 counties within the Commonwealth. Since then, the Task Forces has taken a lead role in making available its prevention and referral services to an estimated two million Kentuckians each year.
Mr. Samples is a former federal law enforcement agent, Pendleton County Police Constable and Pendleton County Detective. He is a graduate of the Federal Protective Service Police Academy and the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice Training Academy. As a federal agent, Samples served on assignment with the United States President’s Law Enforcement Reorganization Task Force Team and as a criminal justice advisor to the United States President. As a Pendleton County Police Constable, Samples was honored as Kentucky’s TOP COP of 2000 by the National Association of Police Organizations and as a runner-up to the National TOP COP in ceremonies in Washington, D.C. He was presented the honor by then United States Vice President Al Gore and United States Attorney General Janet Reno. In his capacity as State Chairman and Executive Director of the KY Multi-County Task Forces on Child Abuse & Exploitation Prevention, Inc., Mr. Samples received an Outstanding Achievement Award from then Kentucky Attorney General David L. Armstrong and was named a Daily Point of Light through the Daily Point of Light Foundation, Washington D.C. for his efforts to prevent crimes against children. He was presented the award by both President Clinton and President Bush.
In addition to his service as State Chairman of the KY Multi-County Task Forces on Child Abuse & Exploitation Prevention, Inc., Mr. Samples presently serves the Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet through its Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). He works to provide treatment services to juvenile offenders who have been committed by the court to DJJ to give them an opportunity to become law abiding adults and productive and useful citizens. It is the opinion of Mr. Samples that most juvenile offenders initially were victims of child abuse and neglect which led, in whole or in part, to their criminal activity and subsequent adjudication.
Born on September 24, 1929 in Chesterfield, England, Dr. Fullwood served as a young man in both the British Navy and the Rhodesian Army. After coming to America, he graduated in 1967 from the Palmer Chiropractic College, Davenport, Iowa. He resided and practiced as an independent chiropractor in Falmouth, KY from 1967 until his death, April 22, 2007.
Dr. Fullwood was one of the initial incorporators, a charter officer and charter member of the KY Multi-County Task Forces on Child Abuse, Inc., since it was founded in January, 1985. He served as its Executive Vice Chairman from 1985 until February 2005 at which time he was appointed State Chairman. Dr. Fullwood also served as President of the Pendleton County Task Force on Child Abuse, a local affiliate of the statewide agency. During his tenure with the Task Forces, Dr. Fullwood was instrumental in the development of the Children of Domestic Violence, Inc. and the Children’s Crisis Centers, Inc. Both organizations provide emergency services to abused and neglected children. In addition to his work in the area of child abuse, Dr. Fullwood was a former mayor of Falmouth, KY, former member of the Falmouth City Council, past president and member of the Pendleton County Mental Retardation Board, and President and member of the Falmouth Lions Club.
OFFICERS/EXECUTIVE BOARD COMMITTEE
Peter O. Samples, Chairman
Kenneth L. Hale, Secretary/Treasurer
Robin D. Landrum, Executive Director