A shakeup at the Trigg County Sheriff’s Office has prompted the former second-in-command of the agency to file an intent to run for sheriff in November as a write-in candidate.
Mike Sandbrink filed the intent to run as a write-in Tuesday at the county clerk’s office, becoming the fourth person to do so since the primary filing deadline passed in January.
Sandbrink confirmed to the News Edge that both he and Sgt. Michelle Kent were notified by letter that they had been fired from the sheriff’s department.
click to download audioSandbrink said he and Kent were suspended with pay around 78 days prior to their termination. Citing an ongoing investigation, Sandbrink would not go into detail about what led to their suspension.
Attempts to reach Sheriff Aaron Acree for comment on both Tuesday and Wednesday were unsuccessful.
Sandbrink has 24 years of law enforcement experience and felt that filing for sheriff was the right thing to do.
click to download audioSandbrink retired from the Hopkinsville Police Department in 2020 and was hired as second in command for the sheriff’s office when Acree was appointed sheriff by Judge-executive Hollis Alexander in August of 2020. Acree replaced Jason Barnes who resigned after he was charged with inappropriate conduct with a high school student.
Sandbrink said the working relationship with other agencies is vital to the success of a rural police agency.
click to download audioSandbrink understands the write-in process to get elected will be a tough one.
click to download audioThe deadline to file in the primary election was January 7. Acree was unopposed in that May primary. Since January, current Deputy Mike Manzanares, former Trigg County K-9 Deputy David Tomlinson, and local resident Ronnie Mazac have filed their intent to appear as a write-in candidates for sheriff in the November election.
The News Edge has reached out to each of the write-in candidates and will have stories about their candidacy in the near future.
