Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese reflects on career ahead of retirement

Sheriff Deese reflects on four decades of service and his legacy as Peach County welcomes new leadership.

FORT VALLEY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wednesday will mark the start of a new year, and with it, new leadership in Peach County. After nearly 42 years in law enforcement, and 20 as top cop, Peach County Sheriff Terry Deese is set to retire.

Deese has served as sheriff since January 2005. Now 70 years old, Sheriff Deese says he has spoken to his family about retirement for years; he hasn’t wanted to be in a position to be unable to perform the duties of the job. In March, he made the decision and announced he was handing over the badge.

“My wife didn’t really want me to run last time,” Sheriff Deese said. “And this time, I was kind of flipping and flopping on what to do. I just woke up one morning and I said it’s time.”

Sheriff Deese says he began his adult life with no intentions of being in law enforcement, but during a winter storm in 1982, a Byron Police Department deputy and friend asked him to use his 4-Wheel Drive Jeep and chain to help residents who might run off the road due to icy conditions. He said that experience showed him he was meant to help others, and he traded his construction boots for a badge.

“Law enforcement is kind of like a fever,” Sheriff Deese said. “Once you get in it and you get in your blood, it’s really hard to walk away.”

There were many highs and lows throughout a four-decade plus career. He says the toughest moment by far was when two deputies were shot on-call in November 2016. It was the first time Peach County had ever lost a public safety officer in the line of duty.

It was the way he led the sheriff’s office through that tragedy that helped him be named Georgia Sheriff of the Year in 2017. Deese says the accolades come second to having the opportunity to serve the community that raised him.

“We all go through high school, and you have your friends talking about, ‘Well, I can’t wait to get out of here.’ And I’m thinking, I want to graduate and stay here. I’ve never had that desire; this is always where I wanted to be,” he said.

For Sheriff Deese, more free time means more time to spend with his three grandchildren. He says he plans to remain active in the community and help the sheriff’s office with its transition to new leadership. As for his legacy, he wants to be remembered as someone who stayed true himself and remained the same person he was when he walked through the doors in 1983.

“The title doesn’t make the man, the man makes the title,” Sheriff Deese said. “The position of sheriff was here long before me, and it’ll be here long after me. If people can think that I made a little bit of a change and made things just a little bit better during my tenure, then it’s been a success.”

He will be replaced by Robert “Buck” Shannon, who was elected in November. Sheriff Deese believes Shannon’s community roots and dedication to service will help him be successful.