RUSK —
Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department Cpt. Chris White, a 13-year veteran of the department, filed for early retirement from the department late last week. Sheriff James Campbell said White will be missed at the department and welcomed back should he desire to return.
“His retirement will be effective June 1,” Campbell said. “He has had an excellent record here and has served in several capacities. White was a very good employee.”
Campbell said White voiced his plans in early May and served his last day with the department on May 14. He said White is currently using compensation and vacation time until June.
Lt. John Raffield will take White’s place so White can run his security business, Innovative Surveillance Solutions, Campbell said.
“Raffield was a natural person to put in his slot,” he said. “I hate to see Chris go, but we wish him well.”
Campbell said Gina Battley will replace Raffield in his old position.
White said he resigned so he could devote his energy to his security company.
“It’s a security service provider for oil and gas companies I started in 2006,” White said. “When you have more than a full time job and a captain’s position on top of it, it’s not something you can do.”
The most enjoyable part of working at the sheriff’s department was his coworkers, White said.
“After 13 years of working there the coworkers stopped being coworkers and became family,” he added. “The investigators and deputies are the reason I stayed as long as I did, but I needed to devote more time to the security company. It was an honor to serve at the sheriff’s office.”
White said Campbell picked the right man for the job with Raffield’s promotion to White’s position.
Raffield said he doesn’t know what to expect in White’s role, but added he has a fairly good idea.
“Hopefully the transition will go smoothly,” Raffield said. “As the captain I am responsible for all the cases, especially when they come to court. My personal case load will decrease, but it will increase as far as what I have to read through and be aware of.”
He said he believes White did a great job with the department.
“I am personally going to miss him,” Raffield said. “He has had opportunities open and he decided it wasn’t right to work both here and at that job. He’s responsible for his own income now and it was a leap of faith for him; a hard decision.”
Raffield said he doesn’t see office procedure working out any differently without White than it did with White in the office.
Campbell said White’s retirement has nothing to do with recent legal action against White, or controversy surrounding a letter White sent regarding Jacksonville Police Chief Reece Daniel in late 2009.
A case against White was dismissed in March in which he was accused of kicking Jacksonville resident Michael Jones in the face after Jones was restrained in handcuffs. The incident, which was alleged to have happened in August, 2006, resulted in about six teeth knocked out and a broken nose.
White is also accused of sending an anonymous e-mail Dec. 8, 2009, to various media sources alleging Chief Daniel was being forced to resign as part of a settlement in a sexual harassment suit brought by five city employees. Daniel sent out a message stating the letter was not true and White later apologized for the e-mail.
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