By Melanie Ruberti

 

Melanie.ruberti@lagrangenews.com

 

A fond farewell

 

TCSO deputy retires to take new county position

 

LaGRANGE –  It was a bittersweet day for Troup County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Capt. Shane Frailey.

 

The deputy retired from TCSO on Thursday after 23 years of service – which included riding the back roads of Troup County with the patrol division to walking the hallways of the county courthouse as head of security.

 

In true TCSO fashion and tradition, Troup County Sheriff James Woodruff sent Frailey off in style with a staff luncheon that included several members of the former deputy’s family.

 

Woodruff also presented Frailey with a commemorative, crystal sculpture that was engraved with the deputy’s dates of service plus a large, wooden flag signed by the entire TCSO staff.

 

“This is very emotional,” Frailey said. “The Troup County Sheriff’s Office has been family to me for 26 years …”

 

Frailey worked in the jail for three years with now Sheriff Woodruff starting in October 1990. He then left for three years before returning to TCSO as a deputy in 1993.

 

“Shane always had our back,” stated LaGrange City Councilman Mark Mitchell, who is also a former trooper with the Georgia State Patrol. “I thank him for his service and am proud of his next steps.”

 

Capt. Frailey is leaving his post to pursue a new endeavor as the recently elected Troup County Tax Commissioner.

 

“I’m very excited,” Frailey said about his new position. “I started my career when I was 20 years old and I loved serving the public … and I still do … It paid off and now I will get to continue serving my community.”

 

“We’re excited and thrilled for Shane,” said Woodruff. “We hate to lose him. He’s been vital to our organization, but we wish him well in his new endeavor.”

 

The responsibilities of the county tax commissioner are familiar to Frailey. He was in control of county tax collections under former Sheriff Donny Turner.

 

Frailey will now use that knowledge to once again provide guidance for residents of Troup County – but will always remember where he started.

 

“I just want to thank Sheriff Woodruff for believing in me,” he said. “I worked for three different sheriffs’ and it was always a stressful transition … but Sheriff Woodruff made it so easy. I thank him for that.”

 

“I’m very proud of him,” said Woodruff. “… he always gave his best. I’ll still see him all the time … I have an office inside the Troup County courthouse … we’ll still be close.”

 

Frailey will be sworn into office on Dec. 29 at the Troup County Courthouse.

 

He will take his oath alongside Woodruff who will be sworn in as the Troup County Sheriff for a second term.

 

Melanie Ruberti is a reporter with LaGrange Daily News. She can be reached at 706-884-7311, ext. 2156.