Kentucky Chief Deputy Dead in Apparent Suicide

The second-in-command at the Jefferson County (Ky.) Sheriff's Office was found dead Monday afternoon in a state park lodge from a gunshot wound, reports the Courier-Journal .

Col. Mike Hettich, well-known for his work as chief deputy with the sheriff's office and as Kentucky's national representative with the Fraternal Order of Police, was 56.

"The whole agency is in a state of shock," Col. Carl Yates said. "This was very unexpected, very sudden, very sad."

Hettich, a 33-year veteran of the department, attended an off-site morning training session for command executives and returned to his room at the lodge during a lunch break. He was soon found dead in his room, from what is believed to have been a self-inflicted wound.