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Sheriff Day reflects on 40 years in law enforcement
Career started in 1967 Day began his law enforcement career as an auxiliary Alabama State Trooper in 1967. As his interest grew he talked to Sheriff Hybard Paul and Paul hired him as a sheriff’s deputy in 1970. A year later when Ray Sheffield was elected sheriff he kept Day on. Day was appointed Sheffield’s Chief Deputy in 1978. When Sheffield retired in 1994 the governor appointed Day to complete the term as sheriff. Day won the election for the position and took his oath of office in 1995.
Department has grown dramatically Back when Day started as a deputy, there were three employees at the jail, three deputies, the sheriff and the sheriff’s wife worked as a part-time secretary. Today there are 45 employees in law enforcement and at the correction facility. “And we really need more law enforcement officers. Some months we respond to as many as 400 calls. It’s very busy as well as challenging,” he said. Day said the greatest improvement he has witnessed for the department has been the construction of the new jail and sheriff’s office, which they began utilizing in 2000. “The new facility provides enough space for inmates and greater safety for inmates and officers. The deputies also have more room in order for them to work. I want the county commissioners and the people of Clarke County to know how grateful we are for the new facility,” he said.
As he reflected on his years with the department he talked about Sergeant James Kidd, a deputy who died while on duty. Kidd was known for playing practical jokes on Day and Deputy Larry Gene Sheffield. One day Clarke County Commissioner Tom Deas, who was also a jokester, decided to play one on Kidd. “Tom came in one day and asked James if he wanted some butterbeans. James said that his hadn’t grown too well that year and he’d like to have some. Tom told him to go get the bag off the back of his truck, so James did, and he took them home. That night James told his wife to shell them so they could have butterbeans the next day. She went to start shelling them and came back and told James that there weren’t any beans, just hulls,” Day laughed.
Active in state, area Day has served as the president of the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, a board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs and as chairman of the Department of Youth Services advisory board. He is chairman of the Clarke Area Child Advocacy Center board and says he will continue to work on the center’s behalf. “I will continue to work with law enforcement on the investigation of child abuse. I think the CAC is a wonderful thing for this county, bringing together all the agencies needed to catch these people and put them where they need to be, behind bars.” Day said he plans to travel more with his wife, Wilma, and he hopes to get a little more hunting in once he retires. Enjoying serving people
“I’ve enjoyed serving the people of Clarke County as their chief law enforcement officer. I’ve been at it so long. Once I’m gone it’s going to hit me hard, especially when I realize I’m not going into the office and seeing everybody,” he smiled.
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