By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
As election season gets underway, Barren County Sheriff Kent Keen announced he will not seek reelection to another term.
“There’s a lot of things in my life that’s changed: more grandkids; my kids are getting older; I’m getting older,” Keen said. “There’s other things in my life that I can do and it just feels like a good time to get out of law enforcement.”
He said spending more time with his family was the “main, driving force” behind his decision.
When asked about his achievements as sheriff, Keen said outfitting deputies with body cameras, increased training in the office, putting the first university school resource officer at WKU Glasgow in 2016, and new or upgraded equipment as some of the things that came to his mind. He added that while he had no intention to be sheriff, it has been a good experience.
“It’s been good,” Keen said, “learned a lot of things, seen a lot of things [and] met a lot of people so yeah it’s been an enjoyable time.”
Keen was first appointed as Barren County Sheriff in 2013 by former judge-executive Davie Greer after retiring as one of the assistant chiefs in the Glasgow Police Department in 2011. During his two decade tenure with the city’s police department, Keen taught D.A.R.E., served as a school resource officer in both Glasgow and Barren County schools — though at different times — and spent 10 weeks at the FBI National Academy.
A new sheriff will begin their four-year term in 2027. Keen said he is intending to finish out the remainder of his term. Current deputy Adam Bow and Freddie Joe Wilkerson have filed paperwork with the Barren County Clerk’s Office to run for sheriff.
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