With just a little more than 100 days left in the current administration, one Trigg County resident spoke to the magistrates of Trigg County Fiscal Court about what she described as concerns for the safety of Trigg County citizens amid a lack of law enforcement coverage in the county.
Citing the “poor leadership” of Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree in the sheriff’s office, Trina Clinkenbeard asked the court to request the resignation of the current sheriff and let the new sheriff take office “for the betterment of our citizens.”
Republican opponent Mike Sandbrink defeated Acree in May’s primary election.
He would take office on the first Monday in January, Jan. 4, 2027, according to Trigg County Clerk Carmen Finley, she noted that there is a write-in candidate for sheriff, Roger Boyd, for the upcoming general election on Nov. 3.
Speaking during Monday’s fiscal court meeting, Clinkenbeard told the magistrates it’s the court’s responsibility to support public safety through budgeting and administrative oversight.
But she said it has failed to do so.
“I’m of the opinion that the court has failed to do that with the sheriff’s department,” she said on Monday night.
Clinkenbeard noted among other things that the sheriff’s office is dangerously understaffed right now, and she said the community has suffered under a lack of transparency from Acree and his “god-like complex” while the court has been silent.
“There have been deaths, threats made against citizens, calls unanswered, etc.,” Clinkenbeard said. “That has gone on in this county with zero comments.”
Trigg County Judge-Executive Stan Humphries thanked Clinkenbeard for bringing the lack of deputies to the court’s attention, and he noted that the court is aware of the lack of deputies on patrol.
Clinkenbeard said there are two or fewer deputies in the county right now, with two new deputies that she said have undergone academy training but won’t be required to stay and work in the county due to the lack of a signed contract.
She added that the sheriff “is rarely seen working,” Clinkenbeard told the court.
Humphries said the shortage is something the court takes very seriously.
“I think it’s our job at this point to try to find ways to fulfill the need that’s out there,” the judge said. “So we’ll try to find ways to implement where there is coverage and (where) there’s no concerns to the citizens of our community.”
Humphries further noted that officials are looking at the situation and trying to find ways to fill those slots where coverage is needed in the community.
In response to Clinkenbeard’s comments, the Acree said that he has for the most part been able to maintain a fully-staffed roster during his six years as sheriff, but he said deputies have been leaving since the primary election results turned out as they did.
“That is by no influence of mine whatsoever,” the sheriff said. “These deputies make their own minds up. They decide who they want to work for.”
Acree also said Clinkenbeard’s comment about threats against citizens is the first time he’s heard anything about that, and he urged individuals to contact the proper authorities if they feel they are in danger from himself or someone else in the department “if that’s what that question is directed to,” so that it can be investigated.
“I don’t have any knowledge of any threats from me or the department toward the citizens,” he said. “We’re here to serve the community, not to be vengeful or vindictive.”
He further said he does not have any knowledge or recollection of calls going unanswered in the community unless state police have documentation of official calls going unanswered.
Acree said he’s not sure what Clinkenbeard is referring to when she talks about unanswered calls and whether it might be something personal.
Clinkenbeard’s husband Nathan Clinkenbeard is a Kentucky state trooper serving Post 1 including Trigg County.
The sheriff said he doesn’t know if Nathan Clinkenbeard is having to answer calls now in the local community.
Acree noted that Nathan Clinkenbeard is the law enforcement supervisor for the local squad for Post 1, and he said he has yet to hear from the trooper or any state police official about any complaints they may have with the local sheriff’s office.
He said state police officials have said they will be able to provide assistance with coverage where there are gaps in the county, and Acree said the local sheriff’s office is not the only agency that seeks assistance from the state police.
Surrounding communities also rely on the state police to provide coverage, he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, I and the deputies have been working well with the chain of command of the state police, and they have not indicated any type of complaints directly regarding calls going unanswered in the community,” the sheriff said.
Acree said that he doesn’t plan to resign.
He said he is still continuing to do his job, and he said he will do so until his term runs out, just like any other sheriff who has ended a term in the local community.
“I’m going to continue to serve until my term runs out,” the sheriff said.
In other business:
*The fiscal court approved on second reading its annual tax levy, including 6.9 cents per $100 valuation for county real estate, 4.79 cents per $100 valuation for county tangible, 9.4 cents per $100 valuation for motor vehicles and 9.4 cents per $100 valuation for watercraft.
*Magistrates in separate measures approved the reappointments of Michael Gross, George Radford, Joe Nichols and Joe Powell to the Trigg County Hospital Board for terms ending Sept. 30, 2030.
*The court approved a list of recent expenditures totaling $152,774.55.