Clark County Sheriff Berl Perdue has been named sheriff of the year. He’s been elected to the presidency of the state Fraternal Order of Police.

Later this month, he will be named as Clark County’s Distinguished Citizen by the Boy Scouts of America’s Bluegrass Council.

“It’s a great honor to me,” Perdue said. It means as much to me as being sheriff of the year. Being a local honor, to me it means more than a state honor. It gives you a little validation you’re doing something right in the community.”

Perdue has lived and worked in Clark County for 37 years, as an officer for the Winchester Police Department for 25 years and the last 12 as sheriff. He is unopposed this fall for another four-year term.

BSA Shawnee Senior District Executive Marlene Gonzalez said Perdue was nominated for the award by a committee of former honorees, community residents and board members.

“Berl has had a role in getting the Explorer program started at the Winchester Police Department,” Gonzalez said. “He and his wife have done so much for the community,” including supporting Scouting and a number of other youth programs.

Perdue said he is not as active as he would like to be, but often coached youth sports programs earlier in his life, including basketball at the YMCA, Clark Middle School football and Little League baseball.

“I had so many opportunities where I could coach and interact with the youth,” Perdue said. “Out of the thousands of kids I coached, only a small handful have been problems.”

A lot changed after being elected sheriff and working 50 to 60 hours a week, he said.

“I was a detective at the city for the last 10 years and I could set my own hours,” he said. “I even had to give up golf. I’ve played six times in 12 years.”

Perdue, a native of Beattyville in Lee County, was a Cub Scout as a boy and started Boy Scouts, but sports began taking all his time, he said. He has been involved in Scouting through the years, including sitting on board of review for several Eagle Scouts.

“If there’s anything I can do to help them, I have,” he said. “I’m so impressed with the young men and projects they come up with. They’re really neat and impressive young men.”

The dinner will be Sept. 18