Boone County Sheriff Michael Helmig announced his retirement Thursday, citing an unexpected recent decline in his health.
Helmig shared a written statement in which he said he is proud of having led the office since 1997.
“As I reflect on my 27 years as the Boone County Sheriff, I am proud to lead Kentucky’s largest full-service Sheriff’s Office,” Helmig wrote in the statement. “This would not be possible without the vision and cooperation of Boone County Judge Executive Gary Moore’s support for our merger with the Boone County Police Department in 2001. The support bestowed upon my staff and I from Judge Moore, as well as past and present members of the Boone County Fiscal Court, will always be instrumental in our continued success.”
Two years ago, Helmig publicly revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“Although, initially, the disease primarily affected my speech, I made clear that my doctor had given me a clean bill of health to continue serving as Sheriff,” Helmig said. “In the days that followed my announcement, I gained an immense amount of strength each day coming to work.”
But because of an unexpected recent decline in his health, Helmig said he decided to announce his retirement.
“I have never stopped fighting and worked tirelessly to find solutions, but I now realize that my decline is irreversible, debilitating and is preventing me from effectively performing my duties as Sheriff,” Helmig said in the statement. “I have too much respect for my staff, the citizens of Boone County and the Office of Sheriff to allow my decline to hinder our continued success.”
Helmig said his last day as sheriff will be April 15, 2025.