HOUSTON COUNTY: On June 30th Houston County Sheriff Department lost part of the main glue that has held the Sheriff Department together.
After about 37 years of wearing a badge and gun, serving with various agencies in the wiregrass, Houston County Sheriff Major Bill Rafferty has officially retired.
When retired Alabama Senator Harri Anne Smith served as Mayor of Slocomb, Bill Rafferty was who she hired as Police Chief in Slocomb.
Having rising in rank with Houston County Sheriff Department, Houston County Sheriff Donald Valenza made a wise choice in placing Bill Rafferty as the financial comptroller of the department. During Sheriff Valenza’s term, Major Bill Rafferty has managed the funds of the department that allowed the department to purchase items the Houston County Commission refused to purchase. You would be surprised how many vehicles the Sheriff Department has purchased that the commission refused to.
Many times during the tenure of Major Bill Rafferty would say NO, when deputies came to him wanting to purchase items. Major Rafferty would not let deputies purchase three pair of pants and would only allow two pair of pants. Yes, not major purchases but little purchases eats up the money slowly.
Not sure Major Rafferty did what he said. He was going to Gordon on the river bridge and slinging that cell phone over the bridge, returning to the office, paying the Sheriff for the phone and having his wife pick him up. Not sure the phone went swimming but after 37 years of being glued to the phone, I feel his pain and desire to get rid of it.
Major Rafferty wants to spend time with his wife and grandchildren, fish, be involved more with his church, and enjoy life.
THANK YOU MAJOR RAFFERTY for having the financial stability of the Sheriff Department with you and Sheriff Donald Valenza. THANK YOU for your years of dedicated service in law enforcement.
