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Brett Hightower: From Bus Rides to Sheriff Badge

by | Jul 2024

BRETT HIGHTOWER’S suitcase bobbed against the heels of his tennis shoes as he climbed each step of the Greyhound bus. The driver secured his luggage in the overhead compartment, and Brett slid across the vinyl seat, waving goodbye to his parents. He would spend a week of his summer with his grandfather, Dr. Ted Hightower, in a community that was — and would forever be — extra special to Brett. 

Even though Brett is a native of Louisville, those childhood connections he formed while his grandfather served as minister of the State Street United Methodist Church led him to attend Western Kentucky University (WKU), to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve and provided him a place of respite while he convalesced from life-threatening injuries sustained while serving in Afghanistan. Now, as the twice-elected sheriff, he mirrors the love and care his grandfather once showered on his beloved congregation, doing the same for his community. 

Brett learned to care about the needs of others from his parents, who were teachers, and while doing community service projects with his church youth group. This allowed Brett to view life through the lens of uncovering the deepest needs and then meeting them. His desire to make the world a better place flickered constantly, igniting a wildfire he could no longer ignore. 

“In my heart of hearts, I always felt this desire to serve in the military. During my junior year at WKU, a friend of mine asked me to give him a ride to the Marine Corps recruiting station. When we got there, I began talking to the recruiter … I wasn’t a hard sell because I always wanted to enlist. I had one year left at WKU, so I signed up for the regular reserves. 

“My plan was to go to boot camp between my junior and senior year, finish my degree, and then I could decide if I wanted to serve full time and work toward becoming an officer or stay in the reserves. Either way, I was going to complete my degree and serve my country.”

From as far back as Brett could remember, his parents had peppered him with the idea that he would attend four full years of college. Although he’d signed the official papers and had enlisted in November 1989, he wasn’t quite ready to divulge his secret. During Christmas break, his mom began making summer plans, giving him the perfect opportunity to share his decision.

“I don’t recommend anyone tell their parents — especially their mother — the way I did. All she heard was, ‘I’ve joined the Marine Corps.’ She didn’t hear the part about me completing my degree. She kept saying, ‘You’re going to be activated,’ to which I assured her that hadn’t happened since Korea or Vietnam.”

His plans changed abruptly on Aug. 2, 1990, when Iraq invaded Kuwait the day before he graduated boot camp. He was deployed stateside for six months, but true to his promise to his mother, he returned to WKU and finished his degree in communications before joining the police force.

Brett spent 17 years with the Bowling Green Police Department. He’d worked his way up to captain when his unit was deployed to Afghanistan. On the morning of Aug. 16, 2008, Brett was injured in close combat with the Taliban when shrapnel fractured his jaw and damaged his left vertebral artery. At that moment, nothing mattered except his devoted wife and two young daughters. How could they endure this loss? He was determined to return home to his family.

Before Brett even returned to the States, he was awarded a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart for his deployment service and combat injury. During his recovery, he was stationed at Fort Knox before accepting a position as law enforcement coordinator for the United States Attorney’s Office. While there, he served as liaison for all federal, state, and local law enforcement for the 53 counties in the Western District of Kentucky.

During this time, the Hightowers became foster parents, and Brett’s commute to Louisville took a toll on everyone. What began as a short-term placement for two children became permanent, and the family, along with several friends, encouraged Brett to run for sheriff.

“This is the people’s office,” said Sheriff Hightower. “I strive to be the best caretaker of this position that I can. I regularly go into our community and listen to the needs being voiced, and I strive to find ways to meet them.” GN

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