photo by: Douglas County Sheriff's Office/Contributed Photo

New Douglas County Sheriff Randy Roberts, at the back in orange, swears in commissioned officers on July 20, 2020.

New Douglas County Sheriff Randy Roberts was sworn in Monday morning to fill the remainder of the elected term of now-retired Sheriff Ken McGovern.

Gov. Laura Kelly approved the Douglas County Republican Party’s nomination of Roberts as sheriff, according to a social media post from the sheriff’s office. Steve Buchholz, whom McGovern had appointed interim sheriff after his retirement went into effect June 27, was also sworn in as undersheriff.

Roberts had a 27-year career in law enforcement, the Journal-World has previously reported. After three years with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Roberts spent the rest of his law enforcement career with the Lawrence Police Department, the final 17 years as a sergeant. Roberts then retired briefly before he started work as director of the Douglas County Emergency Communications Center in March 2015. He retired from that role earlier this year.

photo by: Douglas County Sheriff’s Office/Contributed Photo

Douglas County Sheriff Randy Roberts is pictured on July 20, 2020.

The local GOP selected Roberts with 37 of 37 votes on July 10 after being nominated and answering questions of party precinct committee people, Ron Thacker, chair of the local GOP, told the Journal-World on July 10.

Monday morning, Roberts began swearing in the sheriff’s office’s commissioned officers. Jenn Hethcoat, public information officer for the agency, said once a new sheriff is elected and sworn in, the officers will also be sworn in again.

McGovern stepped down about six months ahead of schedule after 39 years with the agency, including four elected terms as sheriff, the Journal-World reported last month.

Roberts will serve until the next elected sheriff takes over. Three Democrats filed to run for sheriff in the primary election on Aug. 4. No Republicans filed for the seat.