Morehead Police Chief Derrick Blevins retires after 22 years of service

Morehead Police Chief Derrick Blevins has retired following 22 years of service to the city, according to an announcement posted by the Morehead Police Department on Facebook on Monday morning, Aug. 31, 2026. The department shared a tribute to Blevins as the leadership change took effect.

The post cited Blevins’ overall time in law enforcement with the Morehead Police Department, describing his 22-year career in the agency. The announcement did not provide additional details in the report about whether Blevins’ retirement was planned for a specific date beyond Monday’s notice, or whether he will remain in an advisory role.

As chief, Blevins served in the department’s top command position, responsible for day-to-day leadership of patrol and investigative functions, department administration, and coordination with public safety partners in Rowan County. The retirement ends the department’s long-running chief leadership under Blevins, according to the department’s tribute.

The retirement announcement comes as Kentucky police agencies continue to manage staffing, training, and operational readiness amid evolving public safety needs. For Morehead, the transition in the department’s command structure is expected to require internal adjustments to maintain continuity in supervision, scheduling, and incident response.

Community members who follow local law enforcement events may have been directed to the department’s social media post for details about the retirement. The report described the tribute as a department-led acknowledgment of Blevins’ service rather than an official city proclamation or formal ceremony listing a separate timeline.

The department’s Facebook post was the primary public notice cited in the report, and the coverage did not indicate whether a successor has been named or when command duties would shift to the next leader. In such cases, Kentucky agencies typically rely on internal chain-of-command procedures or interim assignments until an appointment decision is finalized, though the specifics for Morehead were not stated in the report.

No additional information in the cited coverage described Blevins’ next career step or whether the department will hold any additional recognition activities. The retirement, however, indicates a forthcoming period of organizational adjustment for the agency as it prepares for the next phase of its leadership.