Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 70.030 (2026)

Deputy sheriffs -- Certified court security officers -- Nonsworn personnel --

✓ current as of May 2026

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Participation in Law Enforcement Foundation Program -- Appointment of nonsworn special inspectors. (1) The sheriff may appoint his or her own deputies and may revoke the appointment at his or her pleasure, except where that revocation is prohibited by the provisions of KRS 70.260 to 70.273. Any law to the contrary notwithstanding, a sheriff may appoint a deputy who resides outside the Commonwealth. In a county containing a consolidated local government or city of the first class with a deputy sheriff merit board, the term of office of a deputy shall continue from sheriff to sheriff unless a deputy is removed according to the provisions of KRS 70.260 to 70.273. Before any deputy executes the duties of his or her office, he or she shall take the oath required to be taken by the sheriff. (2) The sheriff may appoint his or her own certified court security officers and may revoke the appointment at his or her pleasure. A certified court security officer shall take an oath to faithfully perform the duties of his or her office and that he or she possesses the minimum qualifications under KRS 15.3971. (3) The sheriff may appoint nonsworn clerical, technical, professional, and support personnel to assist him or her in the performance of the duties of his or her office. All nonsworn personnel shall serve at the pleasure of the sheriff. (4) No sheriff whose county has adopted a deputy sheriff merit board under KRS 70.260 shall appoint a deputy who is a member of the immediate family of the sheriff. The term "member of the immediate family" has the meaning given in KRS 70.260. (5) Except for certified court security officers, a sheriff's office may, upon the written request of the sheriff, participate in the Kentucky Law Enforcement Foundation Program Fund authorized by KRS 15.410 to 15.510 without the county establishing a deputy sheriff merit board. This subsection shall not prohibit the sheriff from requesting the consolidated local government or the fiscal court to establish a deputy sheriff merit board. (6) The sheriff may appoint nonsworn special inspectors solely to perform motor vehicle inspections under KRS 186A.115. Effective: July 15, 2024 History: Amended 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 103, sec. 3, effective July 15, 2024. -- Amended 2019 Ky. Acts ch. 110, sec. 1, effective June 27, 2019. -- Amended 2007 Ky. Acts ch. 54, sec. 11, effective June 26, 2007. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 346, sec. 67, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 606, sec. 57, effective July 15, 1998. -- Amended 1996 Ky. Acts ch. 104, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1996. -- Amended 1992 Ky. Acts ch. 438, sec. 6, effective July 14, 1992. -- Amended 1978 Ky. Acts ch. 63, sec. 1, effective June 17, 1978. -- Amended 1968 Ky. Acts ch. 152, sec. 43. -- Amended 1950 Ky. Acts ch. 123, sec. 29; and ch. 196, sec. 2. -- Amended 1948 Ky. Acts ch. 9, sec. 1; and ch. 84, sec. 1. -- Amended 1944 Ky. Acts ch. 164, sec. 1. -- Amended 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 205, sec. 2. -- Recodified 1942 Ky. Acts ch. 208, sec. 1, effective October 1, 1942, from Ky. Stat. secs. 1762, 1763, 1763-1, 1763-2, 1779a-1, 4560. Legislative Research Commission Note. This section was also amended by Acts 1978, ch. 384, sec. 159 (the reviser's bill) but Acts 1978, ch. 63, sec. 1 prevails.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 7 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1946–2024 · leading case: Pearce v. Univ. of Louisville ex rel. Bd. of Trs., 448 S.W.3d 746 (Ky. 2014).

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Pearce v. Univ. of Louisville ex rel. Bd. of Trs., 448 S.W.3d 746 (Ky. 2014). · cites it 2× “190 (pertaining to cities of the first class); KRS 95.450 (pertaining to second- and third-class cities and urban-county governments); KRS 95.”

McClure v. Augustus, 85 S.W.3d 584 (Ky. 2002). “Discussion Section 99 of the Kentucky Constitution creates the office of county sheriff but is silent as to the power of that office to employ or to remove deputies. Thus, a sheriff has no constitutional right of either appointment or removal.”

Call v. Commonwealth, 482 S.W.2d 770 (Ky. Ct. App. 1972). “The appellant also contends he was denied a fair trial because one of the jurors was guarded by the sheriff’s wife who was not properly appointed a deputy sheriff as required by KRS 70.030. The irregularity in her qualification was that the county judge had not approved the…”

Wheeler v. Ward (W.D. Ky. 2020). · cites it 3× “KRS 70.030(1). The only limitation on the unfettered control Kentucky sheriffs have over deputy sheriff employment decisions comes from the creation of a “deputy sheriff merit board[,]” which Hardin County has not done.”

Daniel, Sheriff v. Stand. Acc. Ins. Co., 192 S.W.2d 483 (Ky. Ct. App. 1946). “KRS 70.030, in so far as pertinent, recites: “ * * the sheriff may, * * * appoint his own.”

Burl W. Everman v. Lesa G. Robinson (Ky. Ct. App. 2024). “KRS 70.030. An action against an official in his official capacity is in reality an action against the pertinent governmental entity, and an official sued in his official capacity is shielded by the same immunity enjoyed by such governmental entity.”

Mulberry v. Kitchen, 247 S.W.2d 380 (Ky. Ct. App. 1952). “* * *” It was said: “It is apparent that, in so far as the contract purports to vest in appellee tenure of office or the right to perform the duties therein recited, against the will of appellant, it is in contravention of the statute, supra.”

— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 70.030(1) — 2 cases

Pearce v. Univ. of Louisville ex rel. Bd. of Trs., 448 S.W.3d 746 (Ky. 2014). “190 (pertaining to cities of the first class); KRS 95.450 (pertaining to second- and third-class cities and urban-county governments); KRS 95.”

Wheeler v. Ward (W.D. Ky. 2020). “KRS 70.030(1). The only limitation on the unfettered control Kentucky sheriffs have over deputy sheriff employment decisions comes from the creation of a “deputy sheriff merit board[,]” which Hardin County has not done.”

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