Phil Gregory believes his years of experience in law enforcement and government service qualify him to be Logan County's next jailer. He thinks his willingness not only to work hard but also to work full-time sets him apart as the right candidate for the job.

Gregory won the Republican nomination for jailer May against a worthy opponent. Now he is asking Democrats and independents to help Republicans elect him to the position.

Phil Gregory has won the support of Logan County voters repeatedly in the past. He served 13 years as Logan County Coroner, a county-wide elective position. He also served 16 years as director of the Logan County Ambulance Service. He is a paramedic graduate and a certified fire fighter and earned his masters in training.

His first law enforcement experience came when he was in a military police officer and worked in a military stockade as a counselor and guard, transporting prisoners from Fort Knox to a maximum security prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He has been professionally trained and certified by the Kentucky Department of Criminal Justice in Office Administration, Firearms 1 and 2, Mass Disaster Planning, Case Interview, Case Preparation, Courtroom Demeanor, Child Death Investigation, Post-Morten Examination, Evidence and DNA Recovery, and Courtroom Preparation. He is experienced in working with the United States Prosecuting Attorney's Office.

The case he worked which drew the most attention involved looters at historic Savage Cave near Adairville. As reporter Maureen Hayden wrote in a front page story of the Sunday, July 2, 1995 Evansville Courier, "In Kentucky, the coroner has broad powers as the county's chief death investigator. He can arrest a suspect, seize evidence and use a gun if needed to enforce the law." Gregory used his gun to arrest two men who were stealing Native American artifacts and disturbing graves inside the cave. With the help of Deputy Coroner Dale Shields and Deputy Sheriff Travis Harris, Gregory persuaded the men to surrender and then arrested them. The two Tennessee men pleaded guilty to charges they violated the federal Archaeological Resources Protection Act and were sentenced to jail. A third man Gregory had apprehended at the entrance cooperated with officials in providing evidence.

Gregory was honored and praised for his work. The Evansville story was picked up by the Associated Press and reprinted in a number of newspapers.

"Gregory never doubted it was anything but his job to protect Savage Cave," the story said, calling him an "unlikely hero." Now Gregory promises to perform all the duties of his job if elected. He says he will be a full-time jailer, visible to the inmates and to the public. "I will not forget that I work for the voters of Logan County and that I don't own the jail, the taxpayers of Logan County do," he says. "I will work tirelessly to improve the jail's reputation."

He says cutting expenses at the jail and reducing its budget will be a priority. "The Logan County Jail has over a $2.1-million budget this fiscal year," he notes. "The jail needs and deserves a jailer to oversee that budget on a daily basis and to try to come up with ways to cut costs so that citizens' hard-earned tax dollars can stay in their house and out of the jail house. During this hard-hitting recession when families and businesses are having to cut back on their spending and make do with less, the jail's budget continues to increase year after year. This is unacceptable. If elected, I will work tirelessly to come up with ways to cut the costs. and stop excessive spending at the jail."

Other parts of his platform include allowing and encouraging church services at the jail on Sundays for those who want to attend, something he says has not been done in the past. He also believes that all inmates who are legally able and physically able should perform some sort of community service and/or be in a work release program. "This enables the inmates to get back into the work force, earn their keep and transition into productive citizens." He promises strict security procedures to stop "the alleged flow of drugs and contraband into the jail." 

Above all, he promises to "use common sense administrative skills," especially in training and overseeing employees so that the jail will not be in jeopardy of more legal action from inmates and employees. He says he will "bring stronger and more aggressive leadership to the jail to enforce the rules and stabilize the situation."

A 1969 graduate of Russellville High School who studied at Western Kentucky University, Phil Gregory is the son of Billy and Muriel Williamson Gregory. He is married to the former Janie Sanders, whose late parents Jimmy and Kathleen Sanders began Sanders Funeral Home. Phil and Janie have a daughter, Valerie, who is married to Richard Hughes of Adairville. They have two grandsons, Jon-Keith Smith and Alex Hughes. Phil Gregory has lived and worked in Logan County for over 50 years.