Ex-Kentucky Sheriff’s Deadly Rampage Exposes Gaps in Law Enforcement Oversight

In a tragic episode that has sent shockwaves through Kentucky and beyond, former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn “Mickey” Stines stands accused of the brazen murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins inside his own chambers. This horrifying act, captured on security footage, not only highlights an individual’s violent breakdown but uncovers alarming cracks in the system meant to uphold law and order.How Could A Trusted Sheriff Descend Into Violence?Stines was twice elected by his community as sheriff—a role demanding trust, responsibility, and restraint. Yet court records reveal he remained in an “active state of psychosis” days after the shooting, engaging in...