Exodus from Bibb Sheriff’s Office leaving void in command staff

To say the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is losing a ton of experience is pretty close to reality.

If years were pounds, nearly three-quarters of a ton is walking out the door with a combined total of more than 1,461 years on the job.

“It transcends all over the whole sheriff’s office,” Sheriff David Davis said.

His spreadsheet of retirees lists 56 people, including three who retired earlier this year as an incentive program was under discussion.

Retiring Capt. Jimmy Barbee goes out with 44 years and 4 months, mostly spent with the former Macon Police Department.

“I was never leaning towards it until I sat down and I looked at the numbers,” said Barbee, 66.

At what he called a “Jimmy and David” talk, not a “captain and sheriff” meeting, Barbee saw it was an offer he could not refuse.

“It’s better for all of us to go now than at a later date. Forty-five years is long enough”

The retirement package is particularly attractive for former police officers.

“They’re getting 80 or 90 percent of their salary, and next year it drops to about 70 percent,” Davis said. “They could work another 10 years or so and still not make it up.”

At 42 years of service with the sheriff’s office, retiring Chief of Staff David Montford also could not pass up the offer, although he waited just about as long as he could to convince himself.

“I had set a plan to make 45, but this a good deal, an opportunity you can’t turn down,” Montford said Friday on the anniversary of his hire and the day after his 63rd birthday. “I’m not too happy about leaving, but I’m going to go ahead and go.”

Montford, who said he was the last remaining deputy to work with five sheriffs, will retire along with Barbee on the last possible day -- Sept. 30.

Chief Deputy Russell Nelson retired Aug. 28 with more than 35 years.

Plus, the department will lose one corporal, five majors, eight captains, 14 lieutenants, five sergeants and 17 deputies.

“Every single one of these people has given outstanding service to the citizens of Bibb County, and every one of these people will leave a void in the sheriff’s office and the county,” said Davis, who has about 36 years himself on the force.

“When all this is done, I will be the most senior person at the sheriff’s office, and I feel like a rookie,” he said.

It’s not the first time the sheriff’s office has seen a mass departure, though.

Another incentive program in 2001 drew about 30 people into retirement, and nearly a dozen high-ranking officers left before consolidation.

“I hate to see anybody go. I didn’t run anybody off,” Davis said. “They have to think about the rest of their lives and family. They have given outstanding service.”

The department has been in a state of transition since spring as preparations were made to cover for retirees.

On the last day of this month, the final 20 people will leave.

Davis stressed that the departures won’t affect patrol.

“The deputies answering the calls, serving the public and every day in the jail, they’re not affected by this,” he said.

His goal is to keep those ranks filled, and he’s already short 60 to 70 people.

This fall, the Civil Service Board will begin processing candidates for promotions to lieutenant and captain.

He anticipates the whole process will take close to two years to complete reassignments, promotions and new hires.

“Applicants chosen over the next year will probably be here for a while, and they will substantially be the future of the sheriff’s office,” Davis said.

In the interim, deputies will be taking on additional responsibilities or shared jobs that could lead to a permanent new position or responsibility.

The sheriff sees it as a relay race in which two people have their hands on a baton before handing it off.

He also wants to re-evaluate the command structure that might have been too top-heavy.

Col. Mike Scarbary will become his chief deputy and successor if Davis cannot carry out his term for some reason.

“Scarbary has been everywhere in the sheriff’s office,” Davis said.

Davis foresees a longer period of stability ahead even if it takes awhile to fully staff the command structure.

“But we’re able to do the job,” he said. “I’m going to brag on my people. They’re doing a fantastic job taking us through consolidation, and they’re going to do the same through this.”

Barbee is confident the sheriff has an adequate pool of deputies to carry on.

“He’s got a long road ahead of him and it’s going to have some bumps and some ruts,” he said. “Hell, some of it might not be paved, but he’ll get through it. He has the staff behind him to do so.”

To contact writer Liz Fabian, call 744-4303 and follow her on Twitter@liz_lines.

This story was originally published September 8, 2015 at 5:52 PM with the headline "Exodus from Bibb Sheriff’s Office leaving void in command staff ."