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Sheriff, fire officials report drug-task force seizure, staffing gains and incoming engine
Summary
At the Sept. 25 Warren County Fiscal Court meeting Sheriff Brett Hightower praised the county drug task force for a recent seizure, announced sheriff's office support for a WKU candlelight vigil and noted other departmental activities; fire services reported incoming Engine 23, 46 part-time firefighter applicants and modest volunteer increases.
Sheriff Brett Hightower on Thursday told the Warren County Fiscal Court the county Drug Task Force made a recent seizure he said will significantly aid investigations, and he outlined several upcoming public-safety activities and personnel developments.
Hightower said the task force’s investigations remove drugs that contribute to a wide range of crimes, and he congratulated the team on its work. He also said sheriff’s deputies will assist Western Kentucky University with a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. that evening and noted one of his sergeants, Sergeant Clark, will graduate from the Supervisors Academy at the Department of Criminal Justice following a three-week course.
Fire services update
A deputy judge read an update submitted by Fire Coordinator Bill Rector: the county continues to staff four strategically located stations with part-time firefighters and relies on volunteer personnel for additional coverage. Engine 23 is completing final punch-list work in Shelbyville and is expected to arrive in Warren County within about 30 days; once it arrives the court said the county will staff and place it in service ahead of the holiday season.
The transcript records that during the most recent application period the fire service received 46 additional part-time firefighter applications; those candidates will be vetted and processed in coming weeks. Volunteer applications were described as showing a modest increase, credited in part to recruitment efforts and social media outreach.
Other department notes
- The sheriff’s office mentioned local fundraising events this weekend, including a golf tournament and an Over the Edge fundraiser involving deputies. - County officials welcomed back County Clerk Lynette Yates after a brief health leave (Yates was not present in the meeting).
Why it matters: the Drug Task Force seizure and the arrival of Engine 23 affect public-safety capacity; the growing pool of part-time and volunteer firefighters affects staffing and response planning for the county’s fire protection network.
Ending: Officials closed the departmental updates with routine acknowledgments and well-wishes; no formal actions were taken during these updates beyond information-sharing.
