COURIER JOURNAL: Former LMPD leader enters sheriff’s RACE
A longtime Louisville Metro Police Department leader has thrown his hat in the ring to replace retiring Jefferson County Sheriff John Aubrey.
Former LMPD Col. Steve Healey, who retired in 2024 after more than two decades with the department, announced his bid on May 19 to replace Aubrey, who announced in March he would not seek reelection after seven terms. His time as sheriff will end at the end of 2026.
Healey, who now leads Pewee Valley Police, is registered as a Democrat. Also currently running in the 2026 primary for sheriff are Richard Breen, a lawyer and former mayor of Glenview, and Stephen Yancey, a longtime sheriff's office employee who ran against Aubrey in the 2022 primary.
Healey said "community-oriented policing" is "a huge passion" and pledged to build on the relationships he's established throughout the county during his time with the police department.
"I've always said, 'If you want to know what's best for the community and what the community wants, just ask them. They'll tell you,'" Healey told the crowd.
About four years ago he cofounded the Bishop's Table, a weekly community breakfast and community forum, alongside Bishop Dennis Lyons, who said Healey is willing to "admit" when there is a problem, "submit" to listening to others for potential solutions and "commit" to continuing relationships.
Lyons was one of several speakers at Healey's announcement at the police memorial inside downtown Louisville's Jefferson Square Park, a meeting point for protesters during the summer of 2020, when demonstrations against the killing of Breonna Taylor by LMPD officers were a daily event. Healey, an assistant chief at the time, helped found the Bishop's Table around the same time.
Others who offered their endorsements included Metro Council President Brent Ackerson and Aubrey, who said Healey is "the right person" to take the baton. Metro Council members Tammy Hawkins and Jeff Hudson were seated alongside Healey, along with UAW Local 862 President Todd Dunn, Louisville business leader Sundeep “Sunny” Dronawat and several others.
"(Healey) is a proven leader. He's a good person," Aubrey said. "He respects and knows how to talk to all kinds of people."
The primary is set for May 19, 2026, with Election Day taking place on Nov. 3. Longtime Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell has also said he is not running for reelection next year.
