HOUSTON COUNTY: Houston County Sheriff Captain James Ivey has officially retired from Houston County Sheriff Department. The retirement is effective October 1, 2026.
Ivey has been with Houston County Sheriff Department for 25 years. His last command position was Captain over Houston County Sheriff Communications. Prior to that Captain Ivey served as Captain over the Houston County Jail.
Ivey will complete his first four years as District 4 Houston County Commissioner. Ivey sought re-election as Houston County Commissioner and was unopposed. He will begin his second four year term in November 2026 following the November 3 General Election.
UNCONFIRMED that Ivey will join the Houston County Sheriff Reserve Deputy program to remain active with the Sheriff Department.
For eight years Ricky Herring has served as a Houston County Sheriff Deputy Sergeant and a Houston County Commissioner. Herring did not seek re-election as Houston County Commissioner. He was promoted to Lieutenant and within two months of that promotion as promoted to rank of Captain in Houston County Sheriff Department. Upon the retirement of Major Bill Rafftery, Sheriff Donald Valenza handed the finanances of Houston County Sheriff Department to Ricky Herring, which is what resulted in his promotion to Captain.
Passing the financial management of the Sheriff Department over to Ricky Herring, yet Ricky Herring served as Houston County Commissioner and was part of placing Houston County almost $ 14 million dollars upside down. So if Houston County Sheriff Department yells financial struggles, oh well…
In November 2026, no more Houston County Sheriff Deputies will be serving as a Houston County Commissioner. That has been questioned by many as a conflict of interest. Many registered voters are watching Alabama House of Representative Paul Lee, Jeff Sorrells, Steve Clouse and Rick Rehm along with Alabama State Senator Donnie Chesteen. Watching if they are going to introduce legislation in 2027 Legislative Session to end the double dipping of Sheriff Deputies serving on the Houston County Commission.
