Daviess County Sheriff Brad Youngman is seeking re-election, saying his office has delivered substantial progress in the past 3 years while modernizing operations and expanding services for residents.
Youngman said the pace of change under his leadership has been quick, noting that both internal operations and community-facing services have seen improvements he believes “haven’t been accomplished in a long time.”
“I’ve been in law enforcement for 20 years, and I feel like we’ve made significant changes here that have had a great impact on our community,” Youngman said. “There’s still a lot of work to be done, but I do want to take a moment to recognize what we have done.”
During his first term, the Sheriff’s Office opened a field office in Whitesville to better serve eastern Daviess County, returned the agency to full staffing, launched a dedicated Narcotics Unit, expanded the Investigations Division, and modernized systems so residents can pay property taxes online for the first time.
“These steps have made our office more efficient, more transparent, and better equipped to protect our community,” he said. “Our clearance rates are among the best in Kentucky; we solved serious crimes at a much higher rate than the national average, and cleared most property crimes, too. In 2024 alone, our deputies responded to more than 20,000 calls for service, all while keeping Daviess County one of the safest places to live and raise a family.”
Looking ahead, Youngman said his top priorities include continuing the transparency, efficiency, and proactive policing efforts already in place, as well as expanding modernization across the office.
“Some of the things we need to improve are internal — things people don’t see day to day — but they matter,” he said. “There’s more modernization that needs to come to this office. That includes different types of automation at the tax counter, computer upgrades, and technology available to our patrol deputies that we don’t currently have.”
That includes exploring tools that can improve communication during large-scale emergencies. Youngman said cellular service often becomes disrupted after major incidents, and there are systems the County could acquire to “mimic cell towers” and quickly restore communication so residents can report problems.
He also wants to build on the success of the Narcotics Unit, which he said “greatly surpassed my expectations.”
“With all the great work they’re doing, there’s still a lot more work that needs to be done,” he said. “Manpower is something I’ll be looking at in the future so we can grow the department and have more deputies to respond. Daviess County is growing, and my deputies stay busy throughout their entire shift.”
Youngman said staffing challenges, including injuries, vacations, and mandatory training, can quickly strain resources. Expanding personnel, he said, will be key to maintaining response times and proactive work.
Another major goal is securing accreditation for the department. Youngman said he had to work with the state on several issues when he first took office, and the department has since been updating policies and making facility improvements to prepare.
“I’m hoping, if not before the end of this term, to get that done quickly in the next term,” he said.
Youngman, a lifelong Owensboro resident and retired U.S. Army officer, previously served as an Owensboro Police Department patrolman, narcotics detective, and supervisor, and as Chief of Police for Daviess County Public Schools. He is a graduate of the FBI National Command Course and serves on the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors.
As for why he wants to continue serving, Youngman said public service has been “at the core” of his life.
“This is something I feel like I’ve been working toward my entire life,” he said. “In my core, I’m a public servant. I’ve always been that person who wants to help and protect people. Now that I’m at the top of my agency, I truly enjoy seeing people in the community and talking about what they need and what we can do for them.”
He added that the encouragement he receives from residents plays a major role in his decision to seek re-election.
“People tell us we’re doing a great job,” Youngman said. “I have a great team here that does the work, but I do feel like with the team I have in place and under my leadership, it’s something we need to keep going.”
Are you a candidate? Here’s how to be featured.
If you’re planning to run for office in 2026, we want to hear from you. Email us at [email protected] to set up an interview.
There’s no cost to be included. We believe voters deserve equal access to candidate information, and that begins with giving you space to share your vision.
