OLDHAM COUNTY JUDGE ELECT DAVID VOEGELE ANNOUNCES TWO APPOINTMENTS

Oldham County Judge-Executive Elect David Voegele has released the names of two individuals he intends to recommend to Fiscal Court as part of the new administration in January.

Greg Smith, former Chief of the Louisville Division of Police, will be recommended to Oldham Fiscal Court as the replacement for former Chief Michael Griffin, who retired at the end of August. Voegele said he would like Smith’s title to be Director of Public Safety, rather than chief of police.

“The position will manage all police work but also additional responsibilities I would like to come under the supervision of the director of public safety,” Voegele indicated.

“Greg Smith is an outstanding police administrator, recognized widely in the law enforcement community as a consummate professional. I could not find anyone who did not have the highest respect for him,” Voegele said.

Judge-Executive Elect David Voegele said he interviewed 12 candidates to lead the Oldham County Police Department. “I felt each of the candidates was an excellent police officer, but Greg Smith brought more to the table in terms of being able to move Oldham County forward on a variety of issues.”

Chief Smith was a member of the Louisville Division of Police from 1974 through January 2003, when he joined the staff of Senator Jim Bunning. He will end his work for Senator Bunning when Bunning retires at the end of the year.

Chief Smith began his career path as a patrol officer in the First and Sixth Districts. Promotions through the years included detective, sergeant, lieutenant, assistant chief, deputy chief and chief. He has supervised all aspects of police services, including training, community development, narcotics, sex crimes, homicide and robbery units.

Smith is a graduate of Bellarmine University, and holds a Master’s Degree in Community Development from the University of Louisville. He also teaches law enforcement at Bellarmine. He will take over January first from Acting Chief Billy Way, who has accepted a position in business and will retire at the end of December.

Another appointment planned for the new administration includes a former director of Oldham County Planning and Zoning. Jim Urban, who was part of the administration of former Judge-Executive, John Black, will be recommended as the new director of Planning and Development, replacing Louise Allen who retired earlier this fall. Urban left Oldham County government in 2003.

“Jim’s prior experience in Oldham County, along with his knowledge of the development in the county, his management skills and abilities in economic development and land use planning, will bring a superior level of performance and service in planning and development,” Voegele said. “Our quality of life is not for sale, and I will be holding Planning and Development to the highest standard in maintaining that pledge to our community.”

Since leaving Oldham County in 2003, Mr. Urban worked in the private sector and was director of planning for the City of Jeffersonville, Indiana. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts and has a Master’s Degree from the University of Massachusetts in Land Use Planning and Landscape Design.