POLICE CHIEFS OF TWO EASTERN KENTUCKY CITIES GIVE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR RETIREMENTS
LEADING OFFICERS OF PAINTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT & MIDDLESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT SIGNING OFF FROM THEIR CAREERS AT THE END OF DECEMBER, EACH HAVING SERVED OVER 20 YEARS
JANUARY 2, 2023 – written by WADE QUEEN
PAINTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF POLICE MICHAEL ROE, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER SERVING AS AN OFFICER FOR 23 YEARS.
Residents of two Eastern Kentucky counties received surprising news to end up the 2022 year when it was officially announced that the chiefs of police for the main city in each county were retiring
In Johnson County, on Friday, December 30, Paintsville Chief of Police Mike Roe officially announced he was retiring from the Paintsville Police Department. Chief Roe served on the Paintsville Police Department for 23 years, of which during the last 6 years he served as Paintsville’s Chief of Police.
Paintsville Assistant Chief Danny Smith was named as the Interim Police Chief until a new permanent police chief is chosen by the mayor and then is approved by the city council.
PAINTSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT ASSISTANT CHIEF DANNY SMITH WAS NAMED INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.
Chief Mike Roe, badge #405, last official shift ended on Thursday evening,December 29. He began serving on the Paintsville Police Department on January 1, 1999; and his last day serving with the Paintsville Police Department was December 31, 2022.
Several estimated figures were given by the Paintsville Police Department showing how much time had lapsed during the career of Chief Mike Roe, which were stated as the following: 23 years; 276 months; 1,196 weeks; 8,395 days; 12,088,800 minutes; 725,328,000 minutes.
Meanwhile in Bell County, on Saturday December 31, outgoing Middlesboro Mayor Rick Nelson announced the retirement of Police Chief Michael Orr.
MIDDLESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT CHIEF OF POLICE MICHAEL ORR, WHO IS RETIRING AFTER AS AN OFFICER FOR JUST OVER 20 YEARS.
Chief Mike Orr served with the Middlesboro Police Department for 20 years. He had previously retired once before, before he was later rehired by Mayor Rick Nelson in March of 2019, soon thereafter appointed serving as captain in the Middlesboro Police Department, before taking the position of chief of police on July 27, 2020
“Mike Orr has served the city of Middlesboro and its citizens with pride & distinction. We thank him for his long and honest service to our city,” Mayor Rick Nelson said.
Newly elected Middlesboro mayor Boone Bowling said he appreciated Chief Mike Orr’s service as an officer and chief for the department and thanked him for his dedication to the city.
Joe Holder, who is the current Captain in the Middlesboro Police Department, was appointed as interim Middlesboro Chief of Police.
MIDDLESBORO POLICE DEPARTMENT CAPTAIN JOE HOLDER WAS NAMED INTERIM POLICE CHIEF.
Captain Joe Holder has been with the Middlesboro Police Department since May of 2003.