New Robertson County Sheriff named after predecessor quit over third DUI arrest, governor’s demand

Robertson County Judge-Executive Valerie Grigson Miley has chosen a new sheriff for Kentucky’s least populous county following the resignation of Terry Gray, who recently resigned after being arrested Oct. 7 for his third drunken driving offense in less than two years.

Accordingly A post he made on Facebook On the morning of October 13, Grigson Miley appoints Randy Insko, who previously served as the county’s sheriff for 21 years, to replace Gray.

“He has graciously agreed to come out of retirement and serve out the remaining year of Gray’s term,” Grigson Miley wrote on Facebook. “Both he and his wife, Patti, assured me that he has absolutely no plans to run for sheriff in the next election.”

Gray resigned while in prison on Oct. 9, a day after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear demanded that he tender his resignation or file for suspension for dereliction of duty.

Gray was among those featured. a recent Courier Journal study The minister, who remains in office despite charges or convictions, was arrested by a neighboring county’s sheriff’s office on Oct. 7 for having a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit.

At the time of his arrest, Gray was in uniform, armed and driving a department vehicle at high speeds, according to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office.

On Oct. 10, a Mason County grand jury indicted Gray on third-offense DUI, reckless driving, first-degree wanton endangerment and first-degree official misconduct.

According to the charges in the grand jury’s actual bill, Gray was speeding more than 100 miles per hour on Oct. 7 and “created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury” to Mason County Sheriff Ryan Swolsky. Gray’s cruiser, which was operating with lights and sirens while Gray was drunk, “almost crashed”.

Both Mason County and Gray’s Robertson County are located in rural north-central Kentucky. Robertson County has a population of approximately 2,200 people.

More: ‘He owes no one’: Kentucky sheriffs remain in office despite criminal charges and convictions

Grigson Miley said in her post that since Gray’s arrest last week, she had received more than 30 inquiries from people “expressing their desire to finish Gray’s term and run for sheriff in next year’s election.”

But he added: “An appointment now would give any candidate for sheriff a distinct advantage in next year’s election. What I can only describe as a trauma is currently occurring in our county, and I believe next year’s sheriff-elect should be chosen entirely by the citizens of Robertson County and as a result of a ‘level playing field’.”

Grigson Miley said his decision to choose Insko was supported by all five judges in the county.

Insko resigned as Robertson County’s sheriff in 2013 after more than two decades. According to the Ledger Independent’s story about his retirement.

According to the newspaper in question, Insko retired before the end of his term.

An attempt to reach Insko for comment on Oct. 13 was not immediately responded to.

According to a 1993 Lexington Herald Leader column, Insko graduated from high school in 1967, which means he is probably in his 70s today.

It is not clear when he will take office.

Josh Wood is an investigative reporter focusing on public safety and government. You can reach him at jwood@courier-journal.com or at X. @JWoodJourno.

This article first appeared in the Louisville Courier Journal: New Robertson County sheriff named after Terry Gray’s 3rd DUI arrest