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By Kris Harrell

Butler County Sheriff Danny Bond announced his upcoming retirement Monday and recommended Chief Deputy David Scruggs be appointed to finish out his four-year term. The long-time Butler County law enforcement veteran expressed his gratitude for the community’s support.

“I want to thank each and every person who has supported me when I got elected Sheriff, and those who have supported me during the time that I’ve been the sheriff,” Bond said. “When you have the support of the county, it makes things a lot better.”

In a social media post on the Butler County Alabama Sheriff’s Office Facebook page Dec. 23, Bond stated he will be retiring, with Jan. 31 as his last day in office. In the post, Bond explained the reason for his retirement was related to ongoing health issues he is facing. 

“I just think you know that the sheriff of a county needs to be as 100% as they possibly can [be] physically to do the job, especially in a rural county like we have,” Bond said. “I’ve been doing this for 40 years, so it’s been a long time.”

Bond began his law enforcement career with the Georgiana Police Department, transitioning to the Sheriff’s department three years later. Prior to becoming Sheriff, Bond, a Greenville native, spent 16 years working with the Greenville Police Department, ascending to the rank of Patrol Captain before his election as Sheriff.

In Jan 2019, Bond was elected to the Sheriff’s position after defeating incumbent Kenny Harden in November 2018 elections.

“He is going to be tremendously missed when he leaves,” Scruggs said. “After his last day of retirement, we’re going to continue to run the office and the sheriff’s department like he’s [been] running it the past six years, and we will wait on the Governor to make an announcement of who will be taking his remaining term of the two years.”

The position of Butler County Sheriff will be filled by an appointment made by Gov. Kay Ivey. Bond recommended Scruggs for this position, to fill the remainder of Bond’s four-year term. 

Scruggs has worked for 18 years with law enforcement in Georgiana, Greenville and Andalusia: working as a patrol officer, K9 officer, shift supervisor and as a police chief. In those 18 years, Scruggs has been with the Greenville Sheriff’s office for five years.

“That decision [to replace Bond as sheriff] will be strictly left up to the governor to make that appointment,” Scruggs said. “It’s a high recommendation to get, especially from the current Sheriff.” 

The reasons for Scrugg’s recommendation go back to 2021, he helped run the sheriff’s office in the absence of Bond, who was in the hospital. 

Once back in office, Bond promoted Scruggs to Chief Deputy, and he oversees the day-to-day operations while assisting in the budgeting of the sheriff’s office and jail.

“[Scruggs] was just a road deputy then, but he stepped up to the plate, and he made sure the other guys were doing what they were supposed to do and making sure that the office was running it like he was supposed to be,” Bond said. “I promoted him to my Chief, and he’s taken a lot off me since then to make sure that the officers are where they need to be, and he’s been involved in the decision making of what we’ve been doing.”

In retirement, Bond hopes to enjoy more of his hobbies like deer hunting and thanked his wife for her years of sacrifice and support of his law enforcement career. 

“I thank my wife too for putting up with me during all this,” Bond said. “Being in law enforcement, you miss birthdays, holidays, you have to work nights and weekends when you want only your family, and so I need to thank her for being supportive and hanging in there with me.”