Court authorizes KOHS grant application and approves testing funds for sheriff hires

The Spencer County Fiscal Court on March 4 approved personnel testing and authorized the sheriff to pursue state grant funding while discussing legacy weapons and interagency transport duties.

The sheriff told the court that four applicants would need POPPS testing at an estimated cost of $750; the court approved that expenditure. The sheriff also told the court his office would apply for a Kentucky Office of Homeland Security Law Enforcement Protection Program (KOHS LEPP) grant to purchase Glock 17 (9mm) handguns for deputies and jail staff. The sheriff described the grant as "about a $15,000.00 grant" and clarified the funds would not cover holsters, only firearms; the court voted to authorize the application.

Chief Deputy David Kemper raised liability and equipment‑conversion concerns about legacy firearms left from a prior administration. Kemper said a weapons expert, Jack Jawor, advised disposing of 1911 handguns; converting the 1911s was estimated at $350 per gun while a new 9mm Glock was roughly $410, and conversion of fully automatic rifles to semi‑automatic was recommended to reduce county liability.

On detention logistics, Jailer Mr. Gore said the county currently splits transport duties between the sheriff (court transports) and the jailer (new arrests) and that the jailer could not handle all transports alone. The county attorney referenced KRS 71.065, KRS 441.510 and KRS 70.280 about transportation responsibilities and court security duties; the court asked Gore to work with the sheriff to draft a recommendation for the fiscal court.

The court recorded motions and approvals for the testing expenditure and the KOHS application; no procurement award for firearms was recorded at the meeting.