The retirement of two high-ranking officers at the Jones County Sheriff’s Office was the catalyst for a refocus on department leadership and training.
Capt. Kenny Allen, who headed criminal investigations, and investigator Lt. Gerry Nelson both retired in December with 25 years of service. During his career with JCSO, Nelson also served with the U.S. Marshalls Regional Fugitive Task Force.
Sheriff Butch Reece said in a March 5 interview their service was appreciated and their expertise would be missed, but their departures meant the loss of a lot of experience. He said that loss was instrumental in recent promotions from within the department.
“We realized we need more leadership, and our officers really stepped up. I’m proud of the direction we are heading,” the sheriff said.
He said administrative staff got together and went through candidates for the promotions, and with those promotions came a new focus on training to be prepared for future needs.
Reece said that training includes firearms instruction, SWAT, accident reconstruction, CRASE training and more.
“We are also working harder to have our officers seen at our schools,” he said.
Capt. Travis Douglas leads the patrol division. He said he is proud of the way officers have stepped up to take on accident reconstruction and online education courses.
Douglas said there are a couple of deputies taking motorcycle training.
Reece said they had meetings with officers and staff to get their ideas of what is needed to best serve the community.
Chief Deputy Earl Humphries said, when a deputy expresses an interest in an area of law enforcement, the idea is to help find them training and encourage that interest.
Douglas said the JCSO is using all of its assets, including training dispatchers and jail personnel to help when there is a need.
Reece explained, in an emergency situation, dispatchers and jailers can perform duties that can free up deputies.
“The whole department works together as one,” he said.
He said he is pleased with the new hires, and two more will graduate from the academy next month. The sheriff said at one time they were short 11 deputies, but with the two new officers, that deficit is down to four.
He said the country went through a shortage of candidates, but the JCSO would not compromise its standards.
“We want people to be proud of everything we do. That includes looking good in new uniforms, shoes that are shined and no beards,” he said.
Humphries said one of the new deputies was formerly a dispatcher.
“I feel like he will do well. You cannot fake having a work ethic,” he said.
Reece said he is excited about the refocus of the department. Part of that is letting the public know what the sheriff’s office is doing, including the monthly activity report.
In February JCSO deputies answered 2,782 service calls, served 335 warrants and civil papers, performed 1,083 traffic stops, patrolled 68,872 miles, worked 30 accidents and had an average jail population of 136 inmates.
Captains Ed Bailey and Kenny Gleaton
Bailey has served the citizens of Jones County since 1995. He currently oversees the warrants and civil process division, as well as courthouse security operations. Bailey is responsible for coordinating the transport of inmates, whether within the county or across the country.
Gleaton has been with the JCSO since 1997 and is the head of criminal investigations.
Lieutenants Crystal Murphy, John Simmons, Travis Walker, Jeff Sullivan and Matthew Johnson Murphy has served the Jones County Sheriff’s Office since 2020 and Simmons since 2010.
Both work in criminal investigations.
Walker has been serving with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office since 2012, Sullivan since 2021, and Johnson since 2018. All three currently serve in the patrol division.
Sergeant Chris Patterson
Patterson has been with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office since 2024, bringing with him many years of prior law enforcement experience from his service as a deputy in Bibb County.
Corporals Ayla Morris, Dan Ribeiro and Christopher Stewart
Morris has been serving the citizens of Jones County since 2017, beginning her career as a 911 dispatcher before transitioning to the Patrol Division in 2022.
Ribeiro has been with the Jones County Sheriff’s Office since 2024 and serves as a member of the K9 Unit, where he is currently paired with K9 Jones.
Stewart has been a jailer with the JCSO since May 30, 2025.
