Robertson County Judge-Executive Valerie Grigson Miley has picked 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 DUI in less than two years.
According to a post she made on Facebook on the morning of Oct. 13, Grigson Miley is tapping Randy Insko, who previously served as the county’s sheriff for 21 years, to replace Gray.
“He has graciously agreed to step out of his retirement, and complete the remaining year of Gray’s term,” Grigson Miley wrote on Facebook. “Both he and his wife Patti have assured me, he has absolutely no plans to run for sheriff in the next election.”
Gray stepped down while in jail on Oct. 9, one day after Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear demanded he submit his resignation or face removal proceedings for neglect of duty.
Gray, who was featured in a recent Courier Journal investigation looking at sheriffs who remained in office despite criminal charges or convictions, was arrested by a neighboring county’s sheriff’s office on Oct. 7 with a blood alcohol content nearly three times the legal limit.
At the time of his arrest, Gray was in uniform, armed and operating a departmental 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 true bill, Gray was driving over 100 miles per hour on Oct. 7 and “created a substantial danger of death or serious physical injury” to Mason County Sheriff Ryan Swolsky, who was “nearly struck” with Gray’s cruiser, which was operating with lights and sirens on while Gray was inebriated.
Both Mason County and Gray’s Robertson County are in rural north-central Kentucky. Robertson County has a population of about 2,200 people.
More: ‘Beholden to no one’: Kentucky sheriffs remain in office despite criminal charges, convictions
In her post, Grigson Miley said since Gray was arrested last week, she’d received more than 30 inquiries from people “expressing their desire to finish Gray’s term, and also run for sheriff in next year’s election.”
However, she added: “An appointment now would give any candidate for sheriff a distinct advantage in next year’s election. Currently, our county is experiencing what I can only describe as trauma, and I believe that next year’s elected sheriff should be chosen wholly by the citizens of Robertson County, and as the result of an ‘even playing field.'”
Grigson Miley said the decision to pick Insko was backed by the county’s five magistrates.
Insko stepped down as Robertson County’s sheriff in 2013 after serving in his position for more than two decades, according to a Ledger Independent story about his retirement.
According to that paper, Insko retired before his term expired.
An attempt to reach Insko for comment on Oct. 13 was not immediately returned.
According to a 1993 Lexington Herald Leader column, Insko graduated from high school in 1967, which means he is likely in his 70s today.
It is unclear when he will take office.
Josh Wood is an investigative reporter who focuses on public safety and government. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X at @JWoodJourno.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: New Robertson County sheriff named after Terry Gray’s 3rd DUI arrest
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