Law enforcement, elected officials and members of the community gathered at the Lauderdale County Government Center on Thursday to celebrate Sheriff Billy Sollie’s decades of public service and wish him well in retirement.

Sollie, who is retiring at the end of the year, leaves behind a legacy of leadership and service having served as sheriff for more than 28 years. Prior to being elected sheriff, he served more than 20 years at Meridian Police Department and briefly led Meridian Public School District’s police department.

In total, Sollie has served as a law enforcement officer in the county for just shy of 50 years.

“The man is somebody everybody in this room knows doesn’t like taking credit,” Chief Deputy Ward Calhoun said. “He’s always talking about everybody else on the team did something. So, today is about him and thanking him for his years of service.”

Calhoun, who was elected in November to take Sollie’s spot, said it’s hard to find words to sum up Sollie’s 28 years of service and leadership as sheriff.

“He’s poured his life, not only into the service of the community, but into people, because you don’t become the kind of leader his is by just telling people what to do,” he said. “You do that by showing them how it’s done, believing in them and giving them the ability to get things accomplished. He’s been doing that for 28 years.”

Meridian Mayor Jimmie Smith said he and Sollie began their careers in law enforcement at Meridian Police Department around the same time, and he has had the opportunity to see the impact Sollie has had on the community.

“I think he’s done a great job, and I think he’s leaving it in good hands as well,” Smith said.

Also recognizing Sollie were Supervisor Kyle Rutledge, Sen. Jeff Tate and Charlie Ballou, who represented Rep. Michael Guest.

As sheriff, Sollie said he has tried to challenge the men and women of the sheriff’s department as well as himself. A point of pride, he said, was that the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Department became the first law enforcement agency in the state to become accredited by the Mississippi Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission in 2007.

“That’s what makes this organization so good is the fact that people throughout the 28 years have challenged us to say, ‘You can’t do that,’” he said. “And we’ve proved them wrong.”

Throughout his tenure, deputies have been in the right place and right time to save lives, Sollie said, and, unfortunately, have been in situations where they had to take a life. Public officials have supported the department, he said, and others have been opposed. Throughout it all, he said he has tried to use the feedback as motivation to improve both himself and his department.

Sollie said it has been an honor to serve Lauderdale County and lead the men and women of the sheriff’s department.

“As I told the deputies at a meeting last month, for 28 years, we have got us to here,” he said. “It’s up to you to carry this organization forward.”