ELECTION 2024
Sheriff Butch Reece ended any speculation about his future plans as Jones County’s top law enforcement officer with last week’s announcement that he will run for re-election.
Reece talked about his 44 years as sheriff in a Feb. 14 interview, during which he made the announcement that he would qualify for re-election next month. The sheriff was first elected in 1980 and took office in January of 1981.
His law enforcement career began in 1972 when he was hired as one of two deputies on the midnight shift in Jones County. The sheriff at that time was Holmes Hawkins, and Reece recalled when he was hired, he was the fifth full-time deputy for the sheriff’s office.
Reece said Booty Childs was sheriff from 1976 to 1980, and it was Childs he defeated to become take office in 1981.
“When I took over, the sheriff’s office had 12 employees and two prisoners,” he said.
The jail was located by the courthouse where the offices of Probate Court are located today, and the jailer lived on site. Reece said there was no room for female inmates, but there were not many. He also recalled there was a small kitchen, but meals for prisoners were purchased from a local restaurant.
The new Jones County Law Enforcement Center was constructed in 1997 and still looks like a new facility.
“We were so proud of the new facility and still are,” the sheriff said. “When we moved, it seemed like a palace.”
The sheriff said he started working at a young age, but he never dreads going to work, even on bad days. He said 20 percent of Americans want to work until they die.
“That’s me,” he commented with a grin.
Reece said most people have a family relation or friend who has spent some time in jail. He said his goal is to make sure in Jones County it is a clean, safe space that could actually help those who find themselves spending time there.
The sheriff said Jones County is home, and he has no desire to go anywhere else. He said he just wants to stay here, work and listen to the people.
“It would be great if we could solve everyone’s problems. We can’t do that, but we can listen,” he stated.
Reece said he has no idea if he will have competition for the office this year, but either way, his plan is to continue to work as hard as he can.
“I will always be available,” he added.
The sheriff said he is aware that people are going to make mistakes, and he tells deputies when that happens to just tell the truth.
“We will try to fix it and learn from it,” he said.
The sheriff said he is proud of the staff and officers with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office.
“We have wonderful employees. I tell them we want to be the Chick-fil-A of law enforcement.”
