Longtime Hamilton County Sheriff J. Harrell Reid passes at 77

Christian Peterson reporter@riverbendnews.org Hamilton County Sheriff J. Harrell Reid, was one of the most influential law enforcement leaders in Florida history and the state’s longest serving sheriff passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23. Reid was born on March 31, 1947, to Harry T. Reid and Kathryn Harrell Reid. He spent his life in Hamilton County and was best known for his decades of service as sheriff. First elected in 1988, Reid went on to serve nine consecutive terms, totaling 36 years. In 1991, he was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Academy, a 10-week program designed to prepare law enforcement leaders in resource management and i