CINCINNATI — For the first time in 16 years, Adams County will get a new sheriff next January. 

Kenneth Dick defeated five other candidates in Tuesday’s election. Outgoing sheriff Kimmy Rogers says it’s time to retire. He feels good about the state of his county.

What You Need To Know

  • Adams County Sheriff Kimmy Rogers is retiring after 16 years of service

  • Kenneth Dick won the election to replace him, beating out five other candidates

  • Rogers is known for his community service and connecting with community members 

“Everyone always wants to say it’s getting worse all the time and I don’t really believe that,” Rogers said. “Overall, it’s pretty peaceful around here.”

He remembers a different time when he first became a deputy in 1973, which he described as the era of moonshine and muscle cars.

“Back then, it was the drag racing, bar fights and the DUI accidents. We don’t have near as many as those,” he said. “I’m glad those days are over, but now we do have the drug problem. Everybody has it.”

He held up an evidence bag with some black pills. 

“I arrested a guy for selling pills in 1978. Now, everybody thinks this pill thing just started. The people have not changed. The drugs themselves have changed,” he said. “Back in the 1970s, they were selling black mollies, white crosses, quaaludes, blue Valiums.”

He said now, it’s the opioids, fentanyl, heroin and meth.

“This guy in 1978, if he had had fentanyl to sell, if he would have had methamphetamine to sell, that’s what he would have been selling.”

The sheriff has been able to help some to get off drugs. 

“My dad had died, and I went down a really bad road,” said Becky Walls, the manager of the Olde Wayside Inn. “Kimmy pulled me in the office one day and he asked me, ‘What can we do to help you?’ He always treated me like a human being and not another drug addict.”

Walls is grateful to the sheriff for helping her and others in the county.

“Kimmy helped a lot, especially with the kids he really did,” she said.

More evidence of Rogers’ community work can be found at Venture Productions, a facility where people with developmental disabilities work and learn.

“If I had to pick my favorite people in Adams County, it’s the Venture Productions people because of their work ethic, their outlook on life. They’re my favorite people,” Rogers said.

“He’s been wonderful with our community and individuals with disabilities. He’s always supported them,” said Venture Productions administrative assistant Sam Calvin.

She and Rogers bring the workers together for a yearly benefit basketball game against his deputies, who always lose. 

“Everybody kept blaming me for being the losing coach because we lost every year, so this year, I coached the Venture Hawks and I had the six guys running for sheriff coach the sheriff’s office Eagles,” Rogers said. “This was my first winning year.”

The team presented him with the game ball, autographed by all of his favorite people.

“I would not live in another county other than Adams County. We have the greatest people,” he said.

His team and quite a few other residents of Adams County will tell you their sheriff’s pretty great, too.

“I’m not really into this legacy stuff for myself,” Rogers said. “I am no more important than any other employee here, no more important than any citizen of Adams County. I’m the Sheriff.”