MUHLENBERG CO., KY (WFIE) -
For the first time, a Muhlenberg County Sheriff has been recognized as the "Sheriff of the Year" in Kentucky.
It is only Sheriff Curtis McGehee's second year as sheriff and already he's made a big impact in Muhlenberg County.
Sheriff McGehee hasn't worked in law enforcement full time for too long, in fact, before he was elected sheriff he was a pastor and a volunteer deputy. Once elected as sheriff, McGehee completed 18 weeks of voluntary department of criminal justice training.
"I wanted to get involved in drug prevention and educating our children and wanted to see the drug movement reduced in our community," Sheriff McGehee.
He says this year they've quickly put a dent in drug activity by seizing more meth labs than every law enforcement agency combined seized last year.
"We're just going to continue to step it up until this problem goes away and if it doesn't go away then neither will we," McGehee said.
McGehee has also implemented a junior deputy program that encourages young people to lead drug free lives.
"We give them a badge and a safety book and we give them identification that they can carry and a little fingerprint kit to take home that their parents or guardians can help them with," said McGehee.
"I've got to be involved in that, got to go with him to the schools," said office manager Donna Brown. "It's just amazing the smiles on the kids faces."
Brown works alongside McGehee and was there when he received his award.
"I was just thinking hey that's my sheriff, he's gotten sheriff of the year," said Brown. "I was so happy and tickled for him and his family too."
"This is one of the most rewarding things that I've done in life and to be able to be serving the community where you grew up and serve a community that you love, it's pretty neat," McGehee said.
McGehee says tips from the public have also been a huge help in cracking down on drug activity, he thanks the community for their support.
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Sheriff Curtis McGehee. (Source: Muhlenberg County Sheriff's Department)
