LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The longest serving sheriff in Jefferson County history said he plans to make his current term his last.
Sheriff John Aubrey is now in his 7th term said he will not be running for another.
“You will know when the right time is to take a break,” he said. “I have come to the conclusion that the time for the break has come. I will not be running for an 8th term as Jefferson County,” he said on Thursday.
Aubrey has spent 27 years in the Jefferson County Sheriff’s office. Prior to becoming the sheriff, he had a long history of public safety and military service.
Aubrey thanked his family and members of the sheriff’s department for their support.
“When I finally reached this stage in my mind, I’m good,” he said. “The critical thing is the folks that I’m surrounded with. The sheriff’s office is a family. If you don’t believe it, you talk to any one of them. We take care of each other. They take care of me.”
The news of his retirement also came with honors. Aubrey was selected by the National Sheriff Association to be named the 2025 Sheriff of the year.
After graduating from Shawnee High School in 1956, he joined the Army reserve where he served 32 years before retiring in 1988 as a colonel.
While in the Army Reserve, he joined the Louisville Police Department in 1962. Aubrey retired from the police department in 1990 after 28 years on the force. He was the police chief at that time.
In 1998, Aubrey first ran for Jefferson County Sheriff.
“You can’t say [thank you] enough,” said Aubrey. “Especially when you’ve had a career like I’ve had. Because you cannot do it by yourself. You can’t do it by yourself. I’ve just been blessed.”
