Gibbs for Meade County Jailer

Proven Leadership. Real Experience.

Stephen R. Gibbs brings decades of public-safety and leadership experience to his campaign for Meade County Jailer. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Army and a retired police officer with the Columbus, Ohio Division of Police.

Throughout his career, he has led people, managed complex organizations and multimillion-dollar budgets, and operated under strict legal and accountability standards — experience that directly aligns with the responsibility of the Meade County Jailer’s Office.

Retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel • Retired Police Officer

A Voter Asked Me: “Why Should We Choose You?”

“I’m running for the office, not against any person. Ultimately, the voters of Meade County will decide who is best prepared to run the Meade County Jail. People should vote for the candidate who can professionally run a modern detention center. As a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and retired Columbus police officer, I bring real experience in street-level criminal-justice work, command responsibility, budgeting, personnel management, and standards-based operations. My focus is on professionalism, accountability, and raising the standard of safety and care at the jail — not politics or popularity.”

— Voter response:
“Sir the last sentence was the answer I wanted thank you, you got my vote sir.”

Watch Our New Ad: Professionalism Matters in the Jail

Professionalism in the jail affects public safety, accountability, and public trust. How leaders conduct themselves in person, inside the detention center, and online sets the tone for the entire operation. Professional standards are not optional. They are set at the top.

Professionalism. Experience. Executive Level Management.

Why I’m Entering This Primary

I’m running to increase professionalism and strengthen the public image of the Office of Jailer.

Public image is shaped by how we manage taxpayer funds, how we respond to audits and oversight, and how leadership conducts itself in public and online. This office should consistently reflect professionalism, ethical leadership, fiscal responsibility, and a firm commitment to protecting the public trust.

After reviewing public reports and oversight materials, it became clear to me just how serious the responsibility of this office truly is.

With more than 26 years in the U.S. Army and over 15 years in law enforcement, I’ve learned that leadership means accountability, setting clear standards, and ensuring operations are conducted safely, lawfully, and responsibly.

My goal is to bring proven executive-level leadership to the Jailer’s Office. Leadership that is focused on protecting the public, supporting deputies, safeguarding inmates’ rights, and responsibly managing taxpayer resources.

Why Change Is Needed

The Office of Jailer is not just a position. It is a public trust.

Recent public reporting, including state audits and publicly available records, has raised questions about oversight, fiscal practices, and public confidence in the Office. While many aspects of the jail operate well, ongoing scrutiny and financial findings point to the need for stronger professional leadership to ensure accountability, compliance, and long-term stability.

What’s Working

The jail is operating.
Deputies report to work and perform difficult, demanding duties.
There are positive inmate programs that should be continued and strengthened.

These efforts matter, and they should be recognized and preserved.

What Needs Improvement

Professional, executive-level leadership at the top.
Clear and appropriate boundaries within the chain of command.
Transparent and consistent pay practices based on merit and performance.
Stronger financial controls, accurate accounting, and responsible stewardship of taxpayer funds.
Up-to-date policies that are followed consistently.

Why Experience Matters

Running a modern jail is a senior-level management responsibility.

Decisions made at the top affect safety, morale, compliance, and the county’s exposure to litigation, audits, corrective actions, and outside oversight, all of which ultimately impact taxpayers.

Law enforcement experience is important. It must be paired with proven experience managing people, budgets, and compliance in a complex public sector environment.

How I Would Approach the Job

By setting clear standards, enforcing policies consistently, strengthening financial oversight, managing personnel and budgets responsibly, and addressing problems early before they require audits, corrective action, or outside intervention, while preserving what works and improving what does not.

The Goal

A professionally run jail that protects the public, supports staff, treats inmates safely and lawfully, and strengthens public confidence in the Office of Jailer.

This is not change for its own sake. It is experienced, professional leadership focused on accountability, safety, and public trust.

ABOUT STEPHEN R. GIBBS

Stephen R. Gibbs
Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.), U.S. Army
Police Officer (Ret.), Columbus, Ohio, Division of Police
Senior Army JROTC Instructor
Certified Kentucky Teacher
Educated at the Naval Postgraduate School and Liberty University

Stephen R. Gibbs is married to his lovely wife, Lisa, and served over 26 years in the U.S. Army, culminating in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. An Airborne-qualified officer, his career included command and staff assignments in operations, logistics, and psychological operations — including service as Battalion Commander of the 1st Psychological Operations Battalion (Airborne) — with duty both stateside and overseas, including combat deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In addition to his military career, he served more than 15 years with the Columbus Division of Police, where he gained extensive experience in prisoner handling, transportation, booking, and court security — performing many of the same custody and supervision duties carried out within a correctional facility. This firsthand operational experience shaped his understanding of professionalism, accountability, and risk management in public safety.

He has a record of sound judgment and steady leadership in both daily operations and high-stress environments. Those same qualities define his approach to teaching, mentoring, and public service today.

He currently serves as a Senior Army JROTC Instructor, where he mentors young leaders and teaches citizenship, discipline, and service. As a state-certified educator, he brings the same structure, accountability, and professionalism to the classroom that he practiced throughout his military career.

Stephen holds two master’s degrees from the Naval Postgraduate School and is pursuing graduate studies at Liberty University, with a focus on leadership and pastoral counseling. His academic and professional training reflect a lifelong commitment to disciplined service, ethical leadership, and community development.

He and his wife, Lisa, attend their local church, where faith and service remain central to their lives. His values — integrity, duty, and selfless service — are shaped by that faith and guide every aspect of his leadership and public service.

His service has been recognized with multiple awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Combat Action Badge, and the Columbus, Ohio, Division of Police Silver Cross Medal for courageous action under dangerous conditions.

Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Gibbs is also a life member of the Brandenburg VFW Post 11404 and the American Legion, continuing his lifelong commitment to serving veterans and the Meade County community.

“Leadership begins with character and ends in selfless service.”
— Stephen R. Gibbs

Professional Leadership in Modern Corrections

Running a modern correctional facility today requires more than daily oversight — it demands executive-level leadership that understands law, finance, personnel, and risk management. My experience leading complex organizations in the U.S. Army and in law enforcement has taught me that safety, accountability, and professionalism all begin with strong systems and clear expectations.

My vision for the Meade County Jailer’s Office is simple: a safe, lawful, and fiscally responsible correctional system that protects our deputies, serves our citizens, and meets the highest professional standards set by Kentucky regulations and national best practices.

The job of Jailer is not simply to oversee daily operations — it’s to lead an organization that continually updates its policies, training, and management systems in step with today’s legal requirements and professional correctional standards.

That means well-trained personnel, transparent financial management, and policies that uphold both public safety and constitutional responsibility. It means leading by example — fostering a team culture where professionalism and integrity are expected, supported, and recognized.

The job of Jailer is about leadership — building a team, setting expectations, and maintaining public trust through consistent, accountable management. That is the standard I intend to set.

What Changes Under Professional Leadership

From day one, leadership in the Jailer’s Office will be focused on professionalism, accountability, and public trust.

• Clear ethical boundaries and credible oversight, including independent and objective medical supervision
• Strong financial controls, with executive oversight and segregation of duties to ensure compliance with Kentucky law
• Updated policies aligned with Kentucky Department of Corrections (KYDOC) standards and Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo) best practices
• Consistent daily operations that reflect written policy through supervision and accountability
• A professional public presence that reflects the seriousness and responsibility of the office

These changes are about building systems that work every day — not politics, personalities, or optics.

Bottom Line

My goal is simple: to build on what is working, strengthen professional standards, and lead a safe, lawful, and fiscally responsible correctional system that protects deputies, inmates, and taxpayers alike.

The same standards that guided me in uniform continue to guide me today.
These values define how I lead — and how I will serve as your next Jailer.

Professionalism • Law Enforcement Experience • Executive-Level Management

These are not slogans — they are requirements. They reflect what the Office of Jailer demands in today’s legal, operational, and accountability environment. This office is entrusted with public safety, people’s lives, and taxpayer resources, and it must be led with the same seriousness and competence expected of any executive-level public safety organization.

Professionalism

Professionalism means operating the jail with clear standards, ethical conduct, and accountability at every level. It means following policy, respecting the law, and maintaining discipline and decorum — even when no one is watching. Meade County deserves leadership that communicates clearly, enforces standards consistently, and earns public trust through conduct, not rhetoric.

Law Enforcement Experience

Law enforcement experience matters because corrections is a high-risk, real-world environment. Effective jail leadership requires firsthand understanding of custody operations, supervision, documentation, use-of-force decision-making, and constitutional responsibilities. Experience in law enforcement provides the judgment needed to protect deputies, manage inmate behavior, and respond appropriately to emergencies and behavioral-health crises.

Executive-Level Management

The jailer’s office is an executive responsibility. Executive-level management means leading people, managing budgets, ensuring legal compliance, and building systems that function reliably every day. It requires the ability to set standards, oversee training, enforce policy, manage risk, and ensure the jail operates safely, lawfully, and efficiently over the long term.

A Note to Voters

Public service is a privilege and a responsibility. I’ve spent my life serving others — in uniform, in law enforcement, and in the classroom — and I believe leadership is about earning trust every day.

This campaign isn’t about titles or politics. It’s about professionalism, accountability, and pride in how our county’s correctional system represents Meade County. Together, we can set the standard — and not settle for it.

Thank you for your trust, your time, and your commitment to our community.

— Stephen R. Gibbs

Contact

FOOTER / LEGAL

Paid for by the Campaign to Elect Stephen Gibbs, P.O. Box 561, Brandenburg, KY 40108

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