Kenton County swears in Jim Gilpin as police chief

Jim Gilpin is Kenton County's new police chief, confirmed by a unanimous vote of the Fiscal Court on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Dozens of county police officers packed the Fiscal Court chambers to watch Gilpin take the oath of office, LINK nky reported. Judge/Executive Kris Knochelmann administered the oath in front of fellow officers and family members, who joined Gilpin for photos afterward.

The court ratified an executive order setting Gilpin's pay at $134,680.48 a year as an exempt employee, effective Wednesday, Oct. 28.

"This is completely overwhelming," Gilpin said, according to LINK nky. He called the job a new chapter in his life and said it would get bigger and better.

Gilpin served as interim chief during the transition following Michael ‘Spike’ Jones’s departure. Jones led the Kenton County Police Department (KCPD) for 11 years before his departure, the NKY Tribune reported in August. Jones's last day with the department was Sept. 11, according to the Tribune. He became Covington's assistant city manager, according to LINK nky.

Gilpin's law enforcement career began with the Lexington Police Department in late 1994, according to a Kenton County government announcement from January 2024. He joined KCPD in 1998 and served until retiring as captain in November 2019. He returned as assistant chief in January 2024, telling the county at the time that he missed the department and wanted to come back "home."

Knochelmann said Gilpin faced strong competition during the hiring process. He recalled that one finalist told the court during an interview that Gilpin was the better candidate.

The KCPD oversees public safety in unincorporated Kenton County and provides backup to police departments across the county's 19 cities. That jurisdiction touches communities including Fort Mitchell, Edgewood, Villa Hills and Crescent Springs.

Commissioner Beth Sewell said she heard from many people about how respected Gilpin is as a person, leader and officer once he was named interim chief. Sewell said the county aims to build a "deep bench" in its departments so it can look first to internal candidates when filling leadership roles.