Retired KSP Trooper Jeremy Hodges Hired As New Brownsville City Police Chief

L-R: City Clerk Lori Burnett, Councilman Slug Duvall, Councilman Justin Meredith, Mayor Jerry Meredith, Chief Jeremy Hodges.

Darren Doyle, story:
Retired Kentucky State Police Trooper Jeremy Hodges has been hired as Brownsville's newest police chief, and was sworn in today.

Hodges retired from KSP in 2019 where he served as a road trooper, a detective, and the public affairs officer. Upon his retirement, he was employed by the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office as a deputy and school resource officer.

"I've enjoyed serving the citizens of Edmonson County over the past 20 years and look forward to this opportunity to continue that role in the city of Brownsville," Chief Hodges said.

Brownsville City Council member Greg Nugent said he felt that Hodges was the perfect hire, having a good relationship with both the Sheriff's Office and KSP.

"I'm personally thrilled to be able to say Jeremy Hodges is the new Brownsville Chief of Police," Nugent said. "We're very lucky to have a life-long Edmonson Countian and retired KSP Trooper, but what's just as important, he's a well-respected citizen."

Hodges replaces former chief Jeff Jewell, who abruptly left the office in September of 2020. Since that time, Edmonson County Sheriff Shane Doyle has served as interim supervisor over the Brownsville Police Department. Doyle recently proposed a plan to the city where the city would contract the Sheriff's Office to provide all the law enforcement in the city of Brownsville for a flat fee; however, when the city learned that Hodges was interested in the position, they decided to go that direction.

"Jeremy Hodges is one of my oldest friends and an excellent police officer," said Sheriff Doyle. "The City of Brownsville couldn't have chosen a more qualified or more perfect candidate to head the city police. While there's a huge hole in our agency with this move, I'm happy we'll still be able to work together to continue making our count a better place to raise a family."

Hodges resumes his duties immediately. He also serves as the bass fishing coach for Edmonson County High School.