FORT VALLEY, Ga. — A longtime Central Georgia Sheriff will hold over the badge at the end of 2024
Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese told 13WMAZ that he won’t run for another term as he approaches his 70th birthday in April.
It comes after a long and distinguished career in law enforcement.
After 20 years as the sheriff of Peach County – and 21 years with the sheriff’s office before that – Deese says his decision to retire was partly motivated by a desire to pass the reins to the next generation.
“It just seemed like time for some of the younger guys to take over,” Deese said.
But right now, Deese told us he has no immediate plans for his retirement.
“We’re just going to play it by ear and see what develops,” Deese says.
But one thing Deese wants to do with his newly acquired free time is spend more time with his two grandchildren.
And with Deese deciding to hand over the badge, there are two veteran law enforcement officers who’ve already qualified in the race for Peach County Sheriff.
Robert Shannon, a longtime deputy with the Peach County sheriff’s office, is running as a Democrat. The other candidate, Ty Ben Mathews, is the police chief of Roberta and is running as a Republican.
Either Mathews or Shannon will take the reins after voters go to the polls in November.
Deese was named Georgia Sheriff of the Year in 2017.