KRS 70.540: County police force authorized -- Jurisdiction -- Appointment --

Qualifications -- Term -- Oath -- Officers.

The county judges/executive of the respective counties shall have and are hereby given

the power, jurisdiction and authority to establish, appo int and maintain a county police

force within their respective counties, all of the members and officers of which shall have

and are hereby given jurisdiction coextensive with the whole county for which they are

appointed. Such police force may consist of a chief and such member, rank and grade

subordinate to the chief, and such clerical and skilled employees as the county

judge/executive shall deem proper. All of the members and employees of the county

police force shall be appointed by the county judge/executive and shall serve for a term of

one (1) year from the date of their respective appointments, unless sooner removed by the

county judge/executive for neglect of duty or improper conduct. All members of the force

shall be citizens of the United States not less than twenty -one (21) years of age and

residents of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. None but discreet and sober persons shall

be appointed to any position on said county police force. Each of the members of the said

county police force shall take an oath, before the county judge/executive of their county,

to faithfully, impartially and diligently perform the duties of their respective offices.

Provided, however, that the chief officer of the county police force of any county may be

designated, in the discretion of the county judge/executive of said county, as captain or

any other appropriate title, and such county police force in any county may consist of one

(1) or more commanding officers, as the county judge/executive of such county may

deem proper or adequate.