Newly retired Chris Francis looks back on his days as sheriff

Randy Greenway presents Chris Francis with his service weapon and badge. Photo contributed.

After a 12 year career as Sheriff of Rutherford County, Chris Francis has officially retired. During the past few weeks, Francis has been honored with retirement receptions given to him by his family, his church family, the sheriff's department and other law enforcement departments.

At his retirement reception Friday, the then-acting sheriff Randy Greenway presented Francis with his service weapon and his sheriff's badge worn the past 12 years.

On Monday morning Aaron Ellenburg was sworn in as Sheriff of Rutherford County.

Francis chose not to seek re-election in the 2022 race and Ellenburg was elected to the high office by voters of Rutherford County.

Francis talked about his career recently and left a word of advice for Ellenburg.

Francis says goodbye to a job that had a lot of rewards and challenges. If he had it to do all over again, he'd run for sheriff again, if it was 2010.

He said he had prayed for direction prior to running for office in 2010 and felt everything fell into place. Francis said it was good timing for a conservative Republican to win a Sheriff's race in Rutherford County, especially a young candidate with some experience and new ideas for the Sheriff's Office.

"I have appreciated the opportunity to serve three terms as Rutherford County Sheriff and consider it an honor," Chris said.

With his years of law enforcement experience behind him, Francis will teach Criminal Justice at Isothermal Community College and hopes to share his passion for justice and recruit quality professions in the criminal justice field.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to continue to positively influence professional law enforcement in Rutherford County," he said.

Francis is appreciative for the mentors and advisors who helped him through the process.

"I have loved the family atmosphere of the Sheriff's Office. Being with deputies at their weddings and visiting them with their new babies have been some of my fondest memories," he said.

"Christmas parades when my kids were small and riding in the patrol car with me are memories that none of us will ever forget. Getting to know the people of Rutherford County in the uniqueness of community" was always a good day. "I got to know a lot of people as sheriff I would have never known," he said.

Some of his most rewarding days came where there was a conclusion of a successful standoff or serious situation when no one got hurt and the suspect was in custody.

"This was always a relief if we could make the arrest with the suspect, deputies, and citizens not being harmed," Francis said.

Other great days as Sheriff included solving crime sprees with the detectives and being involved with drug dealer round-ups with narcotics officers and backing up road deputies on calls and vehicle stops.

"The best days were always the ones when you could tell the Sheriff's Office was making a positive difference in the communities," Francis continued.

He believes among his accomplishments were seeing young and inexperienced deputies be hired, trained and developed into successful law enforcement officers.

"I am also proud of the positive changes the Sheriff's Office experienced during my leadership. Some of the advances we made during my tenure included the implementation of the Field Training Officer Program, in-car computers, body worn cameras, rifle rated vests for each deputy, rifles for each deputy, tourniquets and training to use the for each deputy, night vision for SERT members, an armored vehicle, the body scanner for the jail, and the Sheriff's App for the public to be more informed," Francis said.

Francis says he doesn't have any real regrets, "However day to day I'm sure I would do things much differently as a 12-year veteran sheriff versus some of the decisions I made in the first few years as sheriff.

His toughest days came when a deputy was hurt in the line of duty.

"This is always my fear. It is hard to handle the emotion and fear that family and law enforcement family have when one of ours is hurt doing their job.

"The worst day that I had as sheriff is the day our county lost Trooper John Horton. He was a great man," Francis said.

Francis despised days when there had to be discipline actions or dismissal of a deputy.

Francis advises Sheriff Ellenburg to become involved with as many groups and communities in Rutherford County as possible.

"Try to be everywhere you possibly can in the county representing the office of sheriff and be sincere in all you do. Surround yourself with people that will tell you the truth and listen to them. Never forget your family, where you came from, or your faith," he added.

Francis said now that he's retired, "Jill and I are looking forward to spending more time together and are excited to travel without the worry of a message on my phone that has me hurrying back to the county for an emergency."

The couple has two grown sons, Cole and Caden.