On an autumn day in 2014, the long and distinguished career of 56-year-old Mike Hettich, a male who served as the Chief Deputy for the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, came to a tragic end. On Monday, October 20th, Hettich was in Lucas, Kentucky, attending a law enforcement command training course at the Barren River State Park. He had participated in the morning session before returning to his lodge room during a lunch break. It was in this room that he was found deceased.
The cause of death was determined to be a gunshot wound. The Barren County Sheriff's Department, which handled the investigation, stated that the wound appeared to be self-inflicted. Investigators at the scene reported that while a gunshot was heard, no one witnessed the event. All initial indications pointed towards suicide, and an autopsy was planned to make a final determination.
The news of Hettich's death sent shockwaves through the law enforcement community in Kentucky and beyond. Described as a 'giant of public service' by Senator Mitch McConnell, Hettich had been a member of the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office for 33 years and was the second-in-command at the time of his passing. His death was treated as an apparent suicide, and as a result, there was no investigation into suspects or any arrests made in connection with the case. The law enforcement community mourned the sudden and unexpected loss of a man who had dedicated his life to public service.
