Video: Wide Range Of Emotions As Longtime Chickasaw County Sheriff Retires

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HOUSTON, MISS. (WCBI) – A longtime law enforcement officer is hanging up his badge, but he has decades of memories and friends.
WCBI’s Allie Martin dropped in on a retirement reception for Chickasaw County Sheriff Jimmy Simmons and has more.

It was an emotional time as friends, family and fellow law enforcement officers and first responders gathered at the Houston Civic Center for a reception honoring longtime Chickasaw County Sheriff Jimmy Simmons, who is retiring.

Simmons began his law enforcement career as a police officer, then he worked at the sheriff’s department before running for the top spot.

Johnny Turman is the sheriff’s stepbrother and remembers when Simmons first announced he would run for elected office.

“He said, well, I think this is the time to do this, so he tried it and the people in Chickasaw County decided that’s who they wanted for their sheriff, so he’s had a long, good good run,” Turman said.

Photos and memorabilia from his career were on display, as well wishers visited with the sheriff, and cooks made stew out back.

James Meyers has served as Chickasaw County’s Chief Deputy for 28 years, working alongside Sheriff Simmons, as the county saw many changes, among them, a regional jail. In November, Meyers ran for sheriff, and won.

He says Simmons epitomizes what it means to be a law officer.

“He’s just an everyday kind of man, he treated everybody the same, he just took a hard working aspect to law enforcement, treated everybody the same, whether you were rich, poor, color never played no part,” Chief Deputy Meyers said.

Meyers says he has a strong role model in Simmons and looks forward to carrying on the tradition of excellence at the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Department. In Houston,

Meyers officially begins his job as sheriff early next month.