Franklin County Sheriff Chris Quire to retire this month. Replacement named
Franklin County Sheriff Chris Quire will retire from the post Thursday, July 31 after 28 years in law enforcement in the county.
Quire announced the retirement July 29 in a joint press conference with Franklin County Judge-Executive Michael Mueller.
“I will ever be honored and thankful for my supporters and voters for their trust and friendships,” Quire said.
Quire was first elected sheriff in 2018 after beating incumbent Pat Melton in the Democratic primary, according to The State Journal. Quire ran unopposed in the general election that year.
He won a second term as sheriff in 2022 after defeating Republican Steve Sutton, according to The State Journal. He was named Kentucky Sheriff of the Year in 2024.
One of his proudest achievements is placing school resource officers in every county school, Mueller said.
“Sheriff Quire has served this community with honor, integrity and professionalism throughout his career,” Mueller said. “Under his leadership, the sheriff’s office has achieved numerous milestones that will leave a lasting impact in our county.”
During his tenure, Quire oversaw the replacement of the sheriff’s office vehicle fleet and upgraded equipment. Mueller praised Quire’s ability to stay within the fiscal budget.
“Perhaps the most commendable is the sheriff’s long-lasting commitment to being fiscally responsible, consistently operating within a budget while still improving services year after year,” Mueller said.
Chief Deputy Dwayne Depp has been selected as Quire’s replacement for the remainder of the term, which ends in 2026. Quire said he recommended Depp to take over as sheriff and thanked Mueller for following his recommendation.
“Chief Depp has been great to work with, he’s more than qualified to take on this role” Quire said. “I’m happy and honored to leave the office to him and all the staff.”
