GCSO Chief Deputy joining Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force
At Tuesday afternoon’s Grayson County Fiscal Court meeting, Sheriff Norman Chaffins announced that Chief Deputy Corey Knochel will be joining the Greater Hardin County Narcotics Task Force as a Grayson County Sheriff’s Office representative.
Chaffins recruited Knochel to join the GCSO after he was elected sheriff in Nov. 2014, with Knochel’s first day on the job being Jan. 1, 2015. Knochel’s vast law enforcement experience — he was a Kentucky State Trooper from 2006 until 2014 — has been an asset to the GCSO, according to Chaffins, and he will be missed in the sheriff’s office day-to-day operations.
With KSP, Knochel served as a road Trooper, Narcotics Detective and a Special Investigations Detective.
“Corey has been by my side since I took office,” Sheriff Chaffins said about Knochel. “Although he will not be involved in the day-to-day duties at the office, he will still be an integral part of the success of our mission at the GCSO. He brings so much to the table of experience that he could serve in any position and make a huge impact in anything he does. It was Corey’s decision to do something different, so he will be stepping over to the task force, not stepping down from our office.”
Replacing Knochel as Chief Deputy will be long-time Deputy, Lt. Jarrod Mudd.
Mudd has been with the sheriff’s office as a part- or full-time deputy since 2007. The lifelong Caneyville resident spent six-and-a-half years with the Leitchfield Police Department beginning in 2001, where he rose to the rank of Detective.
Mudd also currently serves as an EMT, firefighter and police officer at Louisville International Airport, positions he will relinquish once he becomes Chief Deputy.
“Jarrod was offered the position of Chief Deputy with the stipulation that he make the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office his full-time job,” Sheriff Chaffins said. “He gave up his position as a policeman/firefighter at Louisville International Airport to come home full-time. He said that he wanted to spend more time with his daughters and family here in Grayson County … he gave up another full-time job to be with his daughters! That speaks volumes to Jarrod’s character, and is perfectly inline with our strong family values atmosphere here at the GCSO.”
Chaffins continued, saying, “Jarrod will do a fine job as my Chief Deputy. He too has been a loyal employee since I took office and will make a great leader in his new position. The Grayson County Sheriff’s Office is very fortunate to have both Jarrod and Corey protecting and serving our community.”
Knochel anticipates the move likely occurring in the next couple of weeks.
Staffer approved for Judge-Executive’s office
Judge-Executive Kevin Henderson requested Magistrates approve hiring Marianne Downs as an office staffer. Downs will replace an existing staffer who will be working an internship in Louisville beginning in the next few weeks.
Magistrates approved the move.
Solid Waste Management
Henderson told those in attendance, and people viewing on K105’s Facebook Live broadcast of the meeting, that the county still has a Solid Waste Management department. Apparently, confusion among the public arose after Henderson streamlined the department by eliminating the Solid Waste Management coordinator position (and his assistant).
Presently, complaints about dump sites and other waste management concerns are routed to the Judge-Executive’s office before being passed along to Jailer Jason Woosley, who then sends a crew of inmates to clean the site.
The cost-cutting move saved county taxpayers tens-of-thousands of dollars per year.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
