KFW Honors Sheriff Ernie Kelty
Image: Mercer County Fiscal Court Facebook page
Mercer Sheriff Ernie Kelty received a certificate of appreciation from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. From left: KFW Conservation Officer Jason Wells, Sheriff Kelty, KFW Conservation Officer Michael Prtichard and KFW Director of Marketing. Brian V. Blank.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
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Mercer Sheriff Ernie Kelty received a certificate of appreciation from the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife.
At the Mercer County Fiscal Court’s regular meeting on Tuesday, April 28, Kelty received the certificate from KFW officials.
Kelty, who has served as sheriff since 2010, is not running for reelection this year. Before his election as sheriff, he served with the Harrodsburg Police Department for 26 years.
“He is a true service leader,” said KFW Director of Marketing Brian V. Blank. Along with conservation officers Jason Wells and Michael Pritchard, they presented Kelty with the certificate on Tuesday.
“I’ve always had a tie with Fish and Wildlife,” said Kelty, who was named the 2020 Sheriff of the Year by the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association. “This means a lot to me.”
Kelty said he was inspired to join law enforcement by Damian “Mac” McLane Warren, who served with the KFW for 37 years. McLane passed away earlier this month.
“He was one of the people who made me interested in joining law enforcement,” Kelty said. A native of Washington County, Kelty said his original plan was to join the KFW. However, after being discharged from the US Air Force, there was a state hiring freeze and Kelty instead applied with the HPD. An avid fisherman and outdoorsman who has received an award from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said he had received offers to join KFW over the decades, but stayed with the HPD.
“Harrodsburg was home, and I didn’t want to leave home,” Kelty said.
Kelty is currently serving his fourth, and, according to him, his final term as sheriff of Mercer County. Currently, three candidates, including the Chief Dep. Sean Brown, Dep. Paul W. Parks and Dep. Tim Gambrel are running to replace him.
Blank said if Kelty got bored, he could finally join the KFW.
“We’re accepting applications,” Blank said.
