VALDOSTA — After 17 years with the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Jimmy Don “J.D.” Yeager will resign from his position as lieutenant effective Jan. 31.
Yeager confirmed his plans to resign Wednesday.
According to Yeager, his options were limited in the matter. He stated that he was on vacation when he got a call from Chief Deputy Joe Crow to come into the sheriff’s office to meet with Crow and newly elected Lowndes County Sheriff Chris Prine.
Coincidentally, Yeager said he was at the office at the time of the call.
“When I met with the sheriff and chief deputy, I was asked whether I had another job,” Yeager said. “When I replied that I did not, I was asked if I was looking. Since I had previously been advised that I should start looking for other employment, I said, ‘Yes.’ Then the sheriff said he had to let me go.”
Yeager said that Prine ultimately agreed to allow him to submit a resignation letter by Jan. 31.
According to Yeager, the events leading up to the resignation came as a surprise to him, particularly since he had already accepted a recent demotion from captain to lieutenant.
“Although I was demoted, I wanted to continue to do my job and serve the community,” Yeager said. “But the sheriff said it was personal. He said he wanted to surround himself with people who are loyal to him and stated that my sister had been bashing him ever since she got terminated. Whether that is the case or not, I don’t believe I did anything to make him feel that I would not be loyal to him.”
Prine confirmed that Yeager is to resign and was not terminated and asserted that the events that led to Yeager’s resignation had nothing to do with Yeager’s personality.
“J.D. has done a good job with the sheriff’s office,” Prine said. “I just need to surround myself with people I feel will be good to the community and supportive of me. I don’t ever enjoy these kinds of situations.”
In response to rumors surrounding the termination of Yeager’s sister, Leanne Bennett, who is seven months pregnant, Prine affirmed that his decision to terminate her was not personal.
“She was a sergeant in the K-9 division, and her husband is over that division,” Prine said.
“Her husband was her direct supervisor and that would not work.”
Prine said he decided to keep Bennett’s husband because of his strong work performance.
Prine expressed his best wishes for Yeager and his future endeavors.
When asked about his career plans, Yeager, who has been in law enforcement for almost 21 years, stated that he is actively looking and mentioned some potential opportunities.
“I want to find a position in this community that allows me to remain active, whether it be in municipal or county government or law enforcement,” Yeager said.
In the meantime, Yeager continues to serve on the Leadership Lowndes board, Communities In Schools board and American Cancer Society board.
During the Aug. 5, 2008, General Primary Runoff, Prine defeated Yeager with some 59 percent of the vote.
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