COLBY ? A western Kansas sheriff who said he doesn’t drink anymore has apologized for attempting suicide last week after he started downing alcohol at a state sheriffs’ conference in Junction City.

Mike Baughn, who leads the Thomas County Sheriff’s Department, said Tuesday he has vowed never to touch alcohol again.

“I want to apologize to my family, colleagues in law enforcement, friends and people of Thomas County,” Baughn said.

He said he doesn’t remember much after arriving Thursday at the banquet at the Kansas Sheriff’s Assn. conference, where there was an open bar.

Baughn said he is “not a drinker by nature.” He said he drank several years ago but had stopped.

“When I drink, I don’t even know I’m there,” he said.

Baughn said Undersheriff Jason Moses noticed he had too much to drink and tried to help him to his room. On the way, Baughn turned violent and hit a wall.

When Moses left after getting Baughn to his room, Baughn said he went outside and stabbed himself in the belly with a knife he carries. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital, where he was treated for the wound and later checked into another hospital’s behavioral modification wing.

“The psychologist’s assessment was I’d had too much stress, with the death of an employee and injury of another, as well as my own knee injury, plus family concerns,” Baughn said.

Baughn said he was told he would not have hurt himself if he hadn’t been drinking. He planned to continue with treatment for stress.

“My big job it to show my fellow co-workers and family I’m human and it got me,” he said.

He said his religious beliefs will help him get through the ordeal.

“My faith is what’s carrying me through,” he said. “Even Christians slip up once in a while.”

Moses is filling in for Baughn while the sheriff’s future with the department is being considered.