Many of Georgia’s elected officials and a majority of the sheriffs in the state were in Jones County last week for the salute to Georgia’s sheriffs.
The annual event celebrated its 11th year, according to Jones County Sheriff Butch Reece, who is the originator and hosts the event every year. Reece began the Oct. 17 program by welcoming and thanking all who were in attendance.
The Sheriff’s Salute was held at Brother Stewart’s Pavilion in the Walnut Creek Shooting Preserve.
Sheriff Ron Freeman of Forsyth County was this year’s honoree, having been selected as the 2024 Sheriff of the Year by the Georgia Sheriff’s Association.
The keynote speaker was Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.
Georgia Sheriffs Association Executive Director Terry Norris spoke of having the honor of working with GSA.
“The office of sheriff predates the state. The office is valuable to the peace and public safety of everyone,” he said.
Norris also made note of the failing health of the state’s longest serving sheriff, 92-year-old Cullen Talton, who was admitted into hospice care Oct. 16 and died Oct. 19.
“If help was needed anywhere in the state, Houston County sent everyone they could. He will be missed,” the director said.
Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills read the names of the law enforcement officers who lost their lives since the 2023 Sheriffs Salute while Jones County High School student Hawke Oller played “Taps.” Edwin Ivey played “Amazing Grace” on the bag pipes.
The names of the officers were also displayed on white crosses along the drive to the pavilion.
Sills said he had worn a badge and gun for more than 50 years.
“I never thought I would have to wear a black band on my badge,” he said.
The sheriff said nationwide 378 law enforcement officers had been shot in the line of duty, and more than 100 of those had been ambushed.
“This is an increase never seen before. There are two days when all the flags in the nation are to be flown half-staff. That’s Memorial Day and National Law Enforcement Memorial Day, May 15,” he said.
Sills said he tells his deputies that the office of sheriff was created to preserve the peace and protect the people’s lives and property.
“We don’t need a mission statement. We do everything other police do and more. We are the arm and the sword of the court,” he said.
The speaker went on to say the definition of the word deputy is a person who is an appointed substitute to act in the power of another. Sills pointed out that most of the officers killed during the past year were deputies, and then he spoke directly to the sheriffs in the room.
“That means they died in your place,” he said.
Sills asked all the sheriffs in the room to stand and salute their deputies.
Reece was the next speaker. He said that Jones County received donations because of the annual event, and they like to share with other agencies.
He presented a check to the Georgia Concerns of Police Survivors (COPS) Association in the amount of $2,500. The sheriff said six Georgia officers lost their lives. That number included four deputies and two Georgia state troopers.
The representative accepting the check said COPS has served the families of law enforcement officers for 28 years.
“We can’t do anything for the officers, but we can be there for their families,” he said.
Reece thanked his staff for their work in making the Sheriff’s Salute a success. He also thanked Jones County Pilot Club members for baking cakes and the Sincerity Lodge 430 for the pork skins.
Jasper County Sheriff Donnie Pope introduced Lt. Gov. Burt Jones. Pope said Jones had been a friend to law enforcement.
“He has done what he said he was going to do. The recent legislation would not have happened without his help,” the sheriff said.
Pope said immediately after the hurricane, Jones had a 53-foot trailer loaded with water and sent to victims in the affected areas.
Jones said it was his 12th time attending the sheriff’s salute and thanked Reece and his staff for hosting the event.
“We give the sheriff credit, but we know it’s Ms. Linda who makes it happen,” he said.
Jones pointed out the elected officials at the event, including State Reps. Dale Washburn, Ken Vance, Danny Mathis and State Sen. Rick Williams. He also noted the attendance of Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Insurance Commissioner John King.
The lieutenant governor said the recent hurricane was an example of the work of the sheriffs who had their departments on the ground helping other communities in need.
“We do not show enough appreciation to law enforcement,” he said.
Jones then introduced the honoree, GSA Sheriff of the Year Ron Freeman.
He said Freeman started his career as a deputy and has been in law enforcement for 35 years.
Freeman said he was more comfortable praising others.
“I couldn’t do it without my staff. They help keep Forsyth County a safe place,” he said.
The sheriff said his county recently had a presidential campaign visit and could not have handled it without help. He said, when found out the candidate was coming, he called the neighboring sheriff’s offices for help.
“The response I got from each of them was how many do you need and where to you need them,” he said. “That was on two days’ notice, and I could have called any sheriff and gotten the same answer.”
Freeman said sheriffs know they can depend on each other.
“It was something to see them working together to keep everyone safe,” he said.
The sheriff said departments all over the state sent people to help after the storms in South Georgia.
“Every place I went, it was sheriffs leading the response teams. They do whatever communities need to help,” he said.
Freeman said he was grateful for the award, but he was not worthy.
“I accept this on behalf of my staff, who are worthy,” he said. “I want to say thank you to every one of you who help keep Georgia safe.”
Reece presented Freemen with the plaque and an engraved rifle. Jones presented the honoree with a state proclamation.
At the conclusion of the program, Wilkinson County Sheriff Richard Chatman blessed the meal.
