Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department celebrates three retirements

The Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department said farewell to three longtime employees as one deputy and two detention officers retire.

Deputies and detention officers shared well wishes to Deputy Bob Moody and Detention Officers Patricia Prince and Penny Jones Monday afternoon at a reception recognizing their years of service.

Sheriff Ward Calhoun said Deputy Moody has had a wide-ranging career that saw him working as a pilot and a nurse along the way.

“Bob can do it all,” he said. “But we hope that in your years to come that you have the opportunity to enjoy that r-word, retirement.”

Lt. Kevin Richardson said Moody was reliable and someone who could be counted on to make sure the job got done right.

Maj. Melissa McCarter, who oversees the Lauderdale County Detention Center, said reliable also describes Prince and Jones. The two women showed up every day, worked hard and did what was asked of them.

“These two ladies right here, anything you asked them to do, they did,” she said.

In addition to their own duties, both women helped encourage others and lent a hand when needed. Prince and Jones will be missed at the Detention Center, McCarter said.

It is employees like Moody, Prince and Jones that help make the Sheriff’s Department function, Calhoun said, and their contributions are more than just logging hours. Like any organization, LCSD depends on good workers to ensure the mission is carried out.

“Folks like y’all are the bedrock to our organization. You’ve already heard it; they’re here at work, they’re dedicated, they’re doing the right thing, they’re making sure things get done,” he said. “And this organization, any organization, does not function well without great employees who do that, and so we say thank you.”

Counting Monday’s three, Calhoun said the Sheriff’s Department is celebrating five retirements this month, which is an almost unheard-of figure. It is unusual for sheriff’s departments to have employees until retirement, he said, and the stability Lauderdale County has enjoyed is yet another testament to the quality of its deputies, detention officers and support staff.