8-17-11 — The role of the sheriff is changing. Today, the position is more bureaucratic and less connected to individuals than it was when many sheriffs began their careers in law enforcement. Nonetheless, it is a vital job in any town. Who else could speed to the scene of domestic abuse and bust nearly forty marijuana growers in the same night? The local sheriff always has a story to tell.

"Tales from Kentucky Sheriffs" collects and preserves just such stories. Folklorist William Lynwood Montell has traveled all over the Commonwealth, from Owensboro to Pikeville, with a cassette recorder in hand to document what it means to be a sheriff.

Wayne County Sheriff Charles L. Boston and former Wayne County Sheriff Joseph Conn were among those individuals interviewed for this collection.

To gather these stories, Montell personally met with current and former sheriffs and transcribed their conversations, preserving and organizing the best of what they had to offer. The result is a remarkably clear, honest, and accessible collection of stories that not only entertains but also provides a slice of Kentucky history.

Wildly funny and deeply tragic, often at the same time, these tales chronicle each sheriff's journey from youth to election to office and, occasionally, into retirement. One sheriff recalls his boyhood fear of police officers with a wry smile. Another sadly but dutifully confesses he first got his job because of a co-worker's heart attack.

One sheriff admits he even retired because the increasingly desk- bound nature of his position took the joy and sense of purpose out of the job.

Depending on the personality of each sheriff, the tales range from political to gossipy, from preachy to just plain humble. Their stories recount the antics of those under arrest, colleagues, and other sheriffs. They faced challenges both lethal and hysterical, at times because of mistakes, at others because of great accomplishments. Their stories include everything from endearing dogs to drunken fights on the front lawn, from repentant young soccer players to naked captives.

In these tales, an untrained dog unabashedly charges a criminal. A sheriff comes to fisticuffs with his old, but very intoxicated, friends. Juvenile delinquents redefine their relationship with Christianity, their inner selves, and their communities because of one sheriff's model. Prisoners strip in the back seats of cruisers, one with the sheriff's wife riding along. From shooting skunks to chasing wild hogs, "Tales from Kentucky Sheriffs" showcases the unpredictable situations in which officers often find themselves.

Montell divides these stories by topic, bringing to the forefront both the diversity and the commonality in the office. Together, they make up an uncommon and invaluable addition to Kentucky's rich local history. As sheriffs fill out increasing piles of paperwork and embark on fewer chases, they may no longer have these colorful stories to pass along. Listen in while you still can.

"Tales from Kentucky Sheriffs" is published by The University Press of Kentucky and costs $24.95.

William Lynwood Montell is professor emeritus of folk studies at Western Kentucky University. He is the author of more than 20 books, including "Tales from Kentucky Lawyers," "Tales from Kentucky Doctors," "Tales from Kentucky Funeral Homes," and "Tales from Kentucky One-Room School Teachers."