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Longest arm of the law
Matheny has served more years than any Warren County sheriff
MathenyDayWEB
TBI Director Mark Gwyn, left, presents Warren County Sheriff Jackie Matheny with a framed keepsake for his years of law enforcement service. A banquet was held for Matheny on Tuesday.
Saying that getting shot in the line of duty early in his career as a lawman turned out to be a blessing, Warren County’s longest serving sheriff admitted he considered changing careers after being wounded.“Bryan Denton and Mark Gwyn talked me into getting into law enforcement and six months later I got shot,” Sheriff Jackie Matheny said during his speech at the career appreciation luncheon in his honor Tuesday at Westwood Church of Christ. Matheny, who is by far Warren County’s longest tenured sheriff with 24 consecutive years of service at the end of his term next year, said being wounded (in 1987) and having three small children at home to provide for made him question his choice of careers. However, he admitted that after praying, he felt law enforcement was where God wanted him to be.“When I got shot, something amazing happened,” Matheny said.