Effective Sunday, Jan. 2 at midnight, Bill Lewis will wrap up a 37-year career in law enforcement and plans to celebrate quietly at home with his wife, Barbara.
Lewis has served Lewis County as sheriff for the last 12 years, marking his tenure as the longest serving sheriff in the county’s history.
During a 25-year career with the Kentucky State Police, he retired at the rank of captain from KSP in 1994; he worked in private security for four years after that and it was then he said friends and acquaintances started talking to him about running for sheriff.
He was elected to serve his adopted county in 1998, and began his duties on the first Monday in January 1999.
Lewis said although he isn’t a native of Lewis County, he “hates to say goodbye” to the people he has served.
“I’m not from here, but I chose to make Lewis County my home. I’ll always be proud to say I am a Lewis Countian,” he said from his office Thursday. “I want to thank the people of Lewis County for electing me, they have supported me every time and allowed us to turn out a good product for them.”
Lewis said as a county sheriff, “people call you all the time, day and night, but I understand that, it’s part of the job.”
When asked about accomplishments or improvements he has implemented at the department, Lewis quickly noted the improvement in deputy training, hiring personnel and equipping them to do undercover investigations.
“They’ve been trained well,” he said of the four certified deputies and two special deputies who work to make the county safer.
Lewis said over the last 12 years, 85 percent of cases have resulted in criminal indictments by grand juries. The agency also has a 50 percent rating on solving property crimes, such as burglaries, compared to a state average of 12 percent.
“I’m proud of that issue as a small agency. These rates tell us we know Lewis County,” Lewis said.
Another area of marked improvement has been undercover work by LCSO personnel. Lewis said his department is equipped with the latest in audio and video equipment, which are essential when battling what he termed “complex drug investigations.”
On the negative side of his law enforcement career, Lewis said he has seen an increase in juvenile crimes and the abuse of prescription drugs.
“When I was a young trooper, you hardly saw this (juvenile crimes), it’s exploded,” Lewis said.
Regarding the increase in drug abuse and the subsequent side-effects to society, Lewis said “it’s a cost to taxpayers that shouldn’t be,” placing responsibility for the abuse on the medical profession.
Another accomplishment, one that he said is most important, is that “no one has been seriously hurt or killed under my watch,” he said.
Lewis County Sheriff-elect Johnny Bivens was sworn into office earlier this week on Tuesday; he begins his new duties as sheriff effective 12:01 a.m., Monday, Jan. 3.
For more area news, go to www.maysville-online.com
Contact marla.toncray@lee.net or 606-564-9091 ext. 275.
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