David James committed to service as Jefferson County's 1st Black sheriff

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A familiar face in Louisville city government is taking on a new role in law enforcement and bringing an old friend with him.

Former Louisville Deputy Mayor David James was sworn in Friday morning as Jefferson County's new sheriff, surrounded by family, friends and fellow officers during a packed ceremony at Metro Hall. The event was standing room only inside the mayor's gallery, with local leaders, police officers and city staff filling the room to watch James take the oath of office. His wife held the Bible as Judge Stephanie Pearce Burke administered the oath.

At the same ceremony, former Louisville Metro Police Assistant Chief Steve Healey was sworn in as deputy chief. Healey previously served as chief of the Peewee Valley Police Department and is also a candidate for sheriff in the upcoming election.

The two men have known each other for more than two decades, dating back to their days at LMPD. James said he even helped train Healey when he was a young recruit.

After the ceremony, both men spent part of the day meeting with staff at the James' new office, which recently moved into a modern building.

"Having this new, fresh building is good for the staff here," James said. "It'll brighten their spirits, energize them and actually make them more effective and more efficient by having actually modern workspace."

James replaces longtime Sheriff John Aubrey, who served seven terms before passing away last week. Aubrey, the longest-serving sheriff in Jefferson County history, was widely respected as a steady leader.

"I am not filling the shoes of John Aubrey," James said. "I am standing in his shadow and carrying out his legacy. But I'm honored and humbled to be able to do so."

James said when Mayor Craig Greenberg first asked him to take on the position, he needed some time to think it over.

"When he first mentioned it to me as an idea, I said 'What'd you say?'" James recalled. "And so I told him that I would need to think about that and talk to my wife and family and come back with this decision."

As Jefferson County's first Black sheriff, James said the moment carries deep personal meaning.

"I am the first Black sheriff but I did not do this alone," he said. "There were a lot of people before me that made it possible for me to even be here — like Mattie Jones, who just called me last week to congratulate me."

Healey said the work of the sheriff's office never stops.

"We need to keep moving forward," he said. "We need to keep serving the citizens of the community."

He outlined the wide-ranging responsibilities that fall under the department's oversight from courthouse security to tax collection, prisoner transport and community safety.

"We ensure the safety of prisoners when they're being transported," Healey said. "We ensure the safety of everybody that comes in and out of that building. We're responsible for the collection of taxes, for process service. We do evictions (and) vehicle inspections. There are so many other things that the sheriff's office is responsible for."

Healey said he and James are committed to carrying forward Aubrey's values.

"One thing Colonel Aubrey instilled in everyone is always leave it better than you found it," Healey said. "And that's what Sheriff James and I are going to do."

Both men said they'll continue meeting with staff through Monday as they begin shaping their vision for the office.

"We're going to be talking to them about what their jobs are, what their units do, what their challenges are and how we can help make those better," James said.

James said while he never expected to wear a badge again, he's ready to serve once more. An with a lifetime of service behind him and a legacy to uphold, James he the work now is about helping the department — and the community — move forward.

"I'm just here to be a placeholder and to help this office grow and become more efficient and more effective," he said.

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