County

Sheriff, Hancock County

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The sheriff is the county's chief law enforcement officer; the sheriff's office also collects property taxes and serves court papers.

Open seat: Sheriff Dale Bozarth is not on the ballot.

Candidates Compare by issue

Billy Burton

Republican

Hawesville police chief

The gist

Pledges more deputies on patrol and proactive policing
Pledges two deputies on shift around the clock
Supports body-worn cameras and Flock license-plate readers
Pledges improvements within the department's existing budget

More about Billy

View sources (1)

Pledges more deputies on patrol and proactive policing
Burton announces bid for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“putting more deputies on the road to make a heavier patrol presence, to get out and be a proactive department versus a reactive one”
Pledges two deputies on shift around the clock
Burton announces bid for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“We want two deputies on shift, 24 hours a day, at all times.”
Supports body-worn cameras and Flock license-plate readers
Burton announces bid for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“Burton also supports implementing body-worn cameras and Flock license-plate reading technology”
Pledges improvements within the department's existing budget
Burton announces bid for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“We’re not talking about spending hundreds of thousands of dollars”

Aaron J. Emmick

Democratic

Hancock County sheriff's deputy · Hawesville

The gist

Pledges more deputies for coverage and visibility
Supports body-worn cameras and a drone for searches
Proposes a citizens' police academy and more community outreach

More about Aaron

View sources (1)

Pledges more deputies for coverage and visibility
Emmick files to run for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“More manpower gives us more bodies on the street with more coverage and more visibility.”
Supports body-worn cameras and a drone for searches
Emmick files to run for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“He said body cameras would protect both officers and the public, while a drone could help with searches and high-risk situations.”
Proposes a citizens' police academy and more community outreach
Emmick files to run for Hancock County sheriff
News coverage · The Owensboro Times · Nov 16, 2025 · owensborotimes.com
“potentially launch programs such as a citizens’ police academy”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 3 issues covered in this race.