Following is Sheriff Hayden's message:
To all Graves County citizens,
I want to take this opportunity first of all introduce myself to those of you that do not know me personally, and to thank Graves County Judge Executive Jesse Perry for his confidence in me to help lead the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.
I was born and raised in Graves County, graduating from Fancy Farm High School. Most of my family, parents, brother, and sister are lifelong residents of Graves County, including my wife’s family.
My law enforcement career began with the Princeton Ky Police Department where I served beginning in 1990. I then worked in a drug enforcement position for the Paducah Police Department for a short period of time before starting my career with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department in 1993. The vast majority of my time there, I was in charge of the department’s drug enforcement division. I ran for McCracken County Sheriff and was elected in 2006. I ran for re-election two additional times unopposed and served a total of three (3) four (4) year terms.
I decided to retire from that position July 1st of last year in 2018. We had a very good man (Sheriff Matt Carter) ready to take over and continue to move the agency forward and into the future.
My wife and I decided to move back home where we were both born and raised.
Back in November 2018, I was offered a position with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department to be assigned to work with and to be sworn in as a Task Force Officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s new Paducah Office, covering counties in Kentucky west of the Bowling Green area. I have been working in that position since.
As all of you are aware, there had been some terrible and unfortunate chain of events that occurred with a man that I will always call my friend, Sheriff Dewayne Redmon. I believe that his 33 year long and dedicated career took a toll on him, and affected his health that contributed to his death. His dedication to our county and its citizens is known by many and will never be forgotten by myself nor our community.
I was approached by Judge Executive Jesse Perry a few days ago and asked to consider being appointed as the Graves County Sheriff.
Knowing that entering back into an elected office, will undoubtedly bring my stress level back to the point that led to my retirement last year as the McCracken County Sheriff, I feel a duty and obligation to help my home county in any way I can.
After some soul searching, consultation with family, friends, and prayer, I told him that I would do my very best to help stabilize the department, restore any concerns the public may have, and to bring our Graves County community together.
I am a straight shooter, and my promise to you Judge Executive Perry, and to all of you, that I will not ever mislead you and will always do what is in the best interest of you and everyone in all of our Graves County communities.
Job #1 for me is to speak with the employees, other community leaders and to citizens. We need to understand their concerns, and then implement changes that are needed to bring the Graves County Sheriff’s Office to a level of professionalism that you will be proud to call your own.
We all want the same thing, a safe and prosperous community, and a county law enforcement agency that we all have confidence in, to always do what is right, no exceptions.
We will work with all local, state, and federal law enforcement officials in an effort to make all of you feel safe and secure in your homes, and while traveling across our wonderful county.
Lastly, I would simply ask our community to pray for and support not only me, but all of the employees and staff at the Graves County Sheriff’s Office. There are some good people there whose hearts are in it for all of the right reasons.
Facebook is a loved by many, and others not so much. It does provide an efficient way for us to reach out to the community, and a way to keep you informed. For those that use Facebook, we will do our best to provide you with information about occurrences in our community that are of concern or of interest to each of you.
Thank you,
Jon Hayden, Graves Co. Sheriff
I want to take this opportunity first of all introduce myself to those of you that do not know me personally, and to thank Graves County Judge Executive Jesse Perry for his confidence in me to help lead the Graves County Sheriff’s Office.
I was born and raised in Graves County, graduating from Fancy Farm High School. Most of my family, parents, brother, and sister are lifelong residents of Graves County, including my wife’s family.
My law enforcement career began with the Princeton Ky Police Department where I served beginning in 1990. I then worked in a drug enforcement position for the Paducah Police Department for a short period of time before starting my career with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department in 1993. The vast majority of my time there, I was in charge of the department’s drug enforcement division. I ran for McCracken County Sheriff and was elected in 2006. I ran for re-election two additional times unopposed and served a total of three (3) four (4) year terms.
I decided to retire from that position July 1st of last year in 2018. We had a very good man (Sheriff Matt Carter) ready to take over and continue to move the agency forward and into the future.
My wife and I decided to move back home where we were both born and raised.
Back in November 2018, I was offered a position with the McCracken County Sheriff’s Department to be assigned to work with and to be sworn in as a Task Force Officer with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s new Paducah Office, covering counties in Kentucky west of the Bowling Green area. I have been working in that position since.
As all of you are aware, there had been some terrible and unfortunate chain of events that occurred with a man that I will always call my friend, Sheriff Dewayne Redmon. I believe that his 33 year long and dedicated career took a toll on him, and affected his health that contributed to his death. His dedication to our county and its citizens is known by many and will never be forgotten by myself nor our community.
I was approached by Judge Executive Jesse Perry a few days ago and asked to consider being appointed as the Graves County Sheriff.
Knowing that entering back into an elected office, will undoubtedly bring my stress level back to the point that led to my retirement last year as the McCracken County Sheriff, I feel a duty and obligation to help my home county in any way I can.
After some soul searching, consultation with family, friends, and prayer, I told him that I would do my very best to help stabilize the department, restore any concerns the public may have, and to bring our Graves County community together.
I am a straight shooter, and my promise to you Judge Executive Perry, and to all of you, that I will not ever mislead you and will always do what is in the best interest of you and everyone in all of our Graves County communities.
Job #1 for me is to speak with the employees, other community leaders and to citizens. We need to understand their concerns, and then implement changes that are needed to bring the Graves County Sheriff’s Office to a level of professionalism that you will be proud to call your own.
We all want the same thing, a safe and prosperous community, and a county law enforcement agency that we all have confidence in, to always do what is right, no exceptions.
We will work with all local, state, and federal law enforcement officials in an effort to make all of you feel safe and secure in your homes, and while traveling across our wonderful county.
Lastly, I would simply ask our community to pray for and support not only me, but all of the employees and staff at the Graves County Sheriff’s Office. There are some good people there whose hearts are in it for all of the right reasons.
Facebook is a loved by many, and others not so much. It does provide an efficient way for us to reach out to the community, and a way to keep you informed. For those that use Facebook, we will do our best to provide you with information about occurrences in our community that are of concern or of interest to each of you.
Thank you,
Jon Hayden, Graves Co. Sheriff
Sheriff Hayden was appointed Thursday by Graves County Judge-Executive Jesse Perry, to serve until a special election can be held.
