Retired Laurel Sheriff's sergeant passes at 69
A retired Laurel County Sheriff's sergeant recently passed following his hard-fought battle with cancer.
Sgt. Jack Caudill, of London, died last Tuesday, April 1, at age 69. Caudill was born Sept. 19, 1955, in Paintsville, to the late Jack Caudill and Patsy Wolverton Caudill. He was married to Jennifer Charles Caudill of London, with whom he had two children — daughter Veronica Caudill and son Jack Caudill. He was the grandfather of Madden Jack Caudill, and a brother to Lynn Jarrell. In addition to his parents, Jack Caudill is preceded in death by three siblings — Brian Caudill, Ronnie Caudill, and Donnie Caudill.
Before Caudill worked at LCSO, he began his career in law enforcement at the Kane County Sheriff's Office in Illinois. There, Caudill fulfilled various duties — including having served in the first special operations unit. He also acted as a gang officer, detective, training officer, and road deputy.
After his time in Illinois, Caudill returned to Kentucky, where he served with LCSO until he retired in 2023. Caudill also volunteered as a security guard at Cornerstone Christian School.
Labeled a 'stern' and 'family-oriented' man by his colleagues, Caudill was most known for being dedicated to both his work and loved ones. Bailiff Jerry Poynter worked closely with Caudill for years and spoke on the loss of his one former colleague.
'He was the most honest, straight-shooting man I have ever known in my entire life,' Poynter commented. 'He looked after his people and he made sure that things were done right.'
Poynter shared that he had become close friends with Caudill through their work.
'He's going to be sorely missed by everybody that knew him,' he said. 'He retired a couple years ago but his presence is still felt every day.'
Poynter sends his condolences to Caudill's family.
Another colleague of Caudill's who gave comment was Deputy Daniel Reed. Reed shared that Caudill was a Christian and 'family man' who 'brought a vast knowledge from when he worked in the Chicago area.'
Laurel Sheriff John Root posted a tribute to the retired sergeant, stating, 'He earned the respect of all the men and women under his supervision, and I can confidently say that if I were to face a challenging situation, I wouldn't mind a bit to have Jack by my side because there's no doubt he would stand with you. Jack brought to the table old-school values, straightforwardness, and unwavering resolve.'
In closing, Root wrote, 'Rest easy, my friend; we will carry on from here.'
A memorial service was held for Caudill at the Bowling Funeral Home Chapel Sunday, March 6.
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