Sheriff Cain Receives 2018 Melvin Shein Award
Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain recently received the 2018 Melvin Shein award for his distinguished law enforcement service to the commonwealth.
The Shein Award, named for Dr. Melvin Shein of Louisville, has been presented annually since 1973. The award is given each year to a recipient who has contributed immeasurably to the assistance and promotion of law enforcement in Kentucky.
Cain has served the Daviess County Sheriff’s Office since 1974, and is in his fifth term as sheriff. Throughout his law enforcement career, Cain has earned a multitude of recognitions, commendations, awards, certifications and degrees. The U.S. Marine veteran holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a Masters of Arts in education from Western Kentucky University. He also has graduated from both the FBI National Academy and the National Sheriffs’ Institute.
Daviess County Sheriff Keith Cain, right, receives the 2018 Melvin Shein award from Kentucky Law Enforcement Council Executive Director Fran Root, left, and Alexandria Police Chief Mike Ward, center.
Cain has served twice as the Kentucky Sheriffs’ Association (KSA) president in 2004 and 2008. He now serves on the National Sheriffs’ Association board of directors as part of the executive committee and chairs the association’s drug enforcement committee.
For 16 years, Cain served as a Kentucky Law Enforcement Council (KLEC) member in multiple roles, including council chair. He has twice received the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Kentucky Law Enforcement, making him the only person ever to receive the award more than once. In 2003, KSA named Cain Sheriff of the Year, and he is the 2018 National Sheriff of the Year.
“Keith Cain embodies the phrase, ‘service above self,’” said Alex Payne, Department of Criminal Justice Training commissioner. “This man first began his life of service to his country as a teenager in the jungles of Vietnam as U.S. marine. After fulfilling his commitment, he returned home a decorated combat veteran. Many would have deemed this great sacrifice enough, but not Keith. He joined the Daviess County Sheriff’s Department in 1974 and has not stopped serving since.
“Keith has shown many a young law enforcement officer the path to a successful career, myself included,” Payne continued. “His awards and achievements along the way are too many to mention here and none are as important to me as the ones I know him by, friend and brother. Congratulations on being the recipient of this year’s Shein award, there has never been anyone more deserving.”
Dr. Shein graduated in 1939, from Berea College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry. He graduated from the University of Louisville with a medical degree in 1943, and earned a Master of Science degree in pathology from the University of Louisville in 1950. He was a clinical instructor at the University of Louisville’s School of Medicine and had been a lecturer for the Kentucky State Police Academy.
Early in 1972, Shein conducted training for the Kentucky Law Enforcement Council in Frankfort, Bowling Green, Richmond and Louisville. Through seminars, Shein gave his knowledge to many officers regarding techniques and procedures of emergency childbirth and external cardiac resuscitation. Shein has made outstanding commitments and contributions to law enforcement in Kentucky.
His conscientiousness was demonstrated when he donated a plaque to KLEC, which is presented annually to the person contributing the most to assist and promote law enforcement in the commonwealth for the previous year.
Each year, the recipient of this award is acknowledged on the Shein Award, which is displayed in the KLEC office in Richmond. Additionally, the recipient is presented with a plaque of his own.
