During a tearful media conference, Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain announced his early retirement effective Dec. 1 after 48 years of service to the Sheriff’s Office. Chief Deputy Major Barry Smith was named his successor to finish out the term, which runs through November 2022.
Cain made the emotional announcement Thursday afternoon at the Daviess County Courthouse.
He said the decision ultimately came to the amount of time he wants to spend with his family. During the pandemic, Cain realized that spending time with his family is a devotion of his, and his position was making his family make sacrifices.
“Now I’d like to give back to each and every one of them, so I’ll be stepping down on Dec. 1 to begin doing exactly that,” Cain said.
Cain said he has enjoyed his time at the Sheriff’s Department and the ability to serve the community, and considered it his life’s work.
In July, Cain announced he did not plan to run for reelection in November 2022. He has served as Daviess County Sheriff since 1999, though he has served continuously with DCSO since 1974. His history includes serving in the capacities of patrol deputy, chief deputy and chief of investigations. His work experience also includes extensive narcotics investigations, both in an undercover capacity as well as case investigator.
Personally, Cain was named the 2018 Sheriff of the Year by the National Sheriffs’ Association. In 2004 and 2008, he was the recipient of the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Law Enforcement, making him the first officer in the history of the award to receive it twice.
Per state statute, the vacancy for sheriff is to be filled by the County Judge-Executive. Judge-Executive Al Mattingly named Smith as Cain’s successor.
“In my opinion, Barry can step into those shoes immediately and provide the kind of leadership that Sheriff Cain was talking about,” Mattingly said.
Cain endorsed Smith for the position earlier this year when he said Smith is “hands down the most qualified to assume the duties of sheriff.”
Smith was born and raised in Owensboro, and he started his career with DCSO in 1995 as a patrol deputy. He has spent his entire career in the patrol division and has served in all supervisory positions. In 2010, Smith was promoted to lieutenant of patrol and in 2016 to captain of patrol. In August 2017, he was promoted to his present rank as chief deputy.
Smith said in his 27 years of service for the Sheriff’s Office, he has learned many lessons from Cain — the most important being the ability to meet people where they are and being a community-minded leader.
He was alerted of the decision on Tuesday and is thankful and ready to lead the county the best way possible.
“I’ve been with the office 27 years and looking forward to [this new position]. I appreciate their confidence in me to take the reins this year for the office,” Smith said.
Smith still plans to run for sheriff in the November 2022 election, saying he will use the next year to show the community what he is capable of in the role.
