Jason Futch
reporter2.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Sheriff Harrell Reid has served the citizens of Hamilton County for 36 years, enforcing the laws while keeping a good repertoire with the community. On Tuesday, Jan. 6, Sheriff Reid handed the reins of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) over to incoming Sheriff Brian Creech. Reid worked to ensure that Sheriff Creech had a smooth transition, allowing him to shadow the longtime sheriff upon his election so he could get accustomed to the daily operations of the agency. Now that Sheriff Creech has taken the oath of office, Reid caps a career spanning 36 years, longer than any sheriff in the State of Florida. Because of his longevity, he was given the title "Dean of Sheriffs" by the Florida Sheriff's Association in 2013. The title is bestowed upon the longest-serving Florida sheriff. Now that Sheriff Reid has retired, Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw succeeds him as the dean. Despite the titles bestowed upon Reid, the plan wasn't always to become the sheriff of Hamilton County. Reid was born in Valdosta, Ga., in March of 1947 to Harry and Kathryn Reid. He is a lifelong resident of Hamilton County, having received his education from the Hamilton County School District, graduating from Hamilton County High School in 1965. Following his graduation, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville, graduating in 1971 with a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education. From there, Reid began following in the footsteps of his mother, a school teacher, and began teaching in Hamilton County. However, he only taught for one year before being beckoned to join his father in the mortuary business. In 1972, Reid received his mortuary license from a school in Miami and began assisting his father with his funeral home. Reid had been a teacher and a funeral director, but for some reason, he felt another calling. In 1978, Reid became a deputy with the HCSO. Ten years later, he threw his hat in the ring for sheriff after then-Sheriff Charlie Rhoden planned to retire after a 32-year career. Reid went on to win the sheriff's race over veteran law enforcement officer Labarfield Bryant in the 1988 election, beginning a career spanning three decades. "I just want to thank my lord and savior, Jesus Christ. To him be the glory," Reid said at the time of his election. "I just want to thank all those people who helped me so much." Throughout his 32-year career, Reid has trained with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), modernized the HCSO, served in multiple capacities with the Florida Sheriff's Association, including serving as its President in 2010, and has sat on various state boards. Some of these boards included the Florida Sheriff's Risk Management Fund and the Florida Medical Examiners Commission. Reid notably went toe-to-toe with "pill mills" throughout Florida during his term as the President of the Florida Sheriffs Association, helping provide tools to agencies throughout the State of Florida by ensuring Florida's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program was not abolished. His efforts led to the passing of HB 7095 in 2011, codifying efforts to fight pill mills by keeping medical practitioners from dispensing controlled substances. Reid continues to have a passion for farming, maintaining a 200-head cattle farm where he also grows spinach and peanuts. He also continues to run the Harry T. Reid Funeral Home that his father began nearly a century ago. While many focus on Reid's long career in public service, for which he is grateful, his career has been dedicated to building a law enforcement agency that the residents of Hamilton County can be proud of.