Sheriff's office, community mourns loss of jail administrator Randy Reffitt
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
The flags of Highland County buildings are flying at half staff to honor and pay tribute to the life and work of Lt. Randy Reffitt.
Reffitt, 47, the jail administrator at the Highland County Justice Center, died Thursday morning following a stroke that resulted after surgery to remove a tumor he had in his heart.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said Reffitt is "an absolutely devastating loss."
"Randy was third in command here, and it's a huge loss not only from the personnel side, but he was someone who made a difference, and made this a better place to live."
Reffitt was hired in August 2005 at the HCSO as a road patrol deputy and was heavily involved in the K9 unit. He had previously worked at the Hillsboro Police Department for 10 years. He became jail administrator in 2008, where he was responsible for day to day operations, according to Ward.
Reffitt only became ill on Aug. 14 while assisting on a K9 demonstration, according to Ward. Ward said it was initially thought the open-heart surgery was successful, but after suffering a massive stroke, Reffitt never regained consciousness. The sudden loss has had a great impact at the HCSO.
"This is really hard," Ward said. "First and foremost, he was a good friend, he was a great dad, a loving husband, a true family man and an outstanding public servant."
Ward said Reffitt has three children, Bradley and Sandy who are adults, and Chase, who is 5 years old. Reffitt was married to Shana Reffitt, a 911 communications supervisor at the HCSO.
Ward said full funeral honors will be conducted for Reffitt, an honor of which he is truly deserving.
"We're meeting with Thompson Funeral Home this afternoon with the family," Ward said. "We will be doing a law enforcement funeral and he will be buried with full law enforcement honors, which he absolutely deserved," Ward said.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners have requested that flags be flown at half staff at all county buildings in honor of Reffitt, a gesture Ward said his office "greatly appreciates."
Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson sai d Reffitt came from a family of law enforcement officers, from his father Orville who worked with the sheriff's office, to his uncle Walt Reffitt, who was a former chief of police and county sheriff.
"Randy had the desire to move forward and achieve and he always did a good job," Thompson said. "When he came to me and said he wanted to move on to the sheriff's office we still had a good working relationship and in a sense, it was like we didn't really lose him because we still got to work with him. I thought a lot of Randy, and sitting here I keep thinking we'll just wake up from this dream. You don't expect things like this to happen."
"We have suffered a tremendous loss here at the sheriff's office," Ward said. He was the absolute example of a public servant, with a tremendous amount of integrity and work ethic. He was somebody I was truly proud to call a friend. There will be a hole in our hearts forever. This is a tremendous loss."
In addition to his dedication to his family and his work with the K9 units, Ward said Reffitt was a black belt in karate, and was an instructor to both children and adults.
"There are countless people who will feel this loss," Ward said. "It's extremely hard here at the office."
The flags of Highland County buildings are flying at half staff to honor and pay tribute to the life and work of Lt. Randy Reffitt.
Reffitt, 47, the jail administrator at the Highland County Justice Center, died Thursday morning following a stroke that resulted after surgery to remove a tumor he had in his heart.
Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward said Reffitt is "an absolutely devastating loss."
"Randy was third in command here, and it's a huge loss not only from the personnel side, but he was someone who made a difference, and made this a better place to live."
Reffitt was hired in August 2005 at the HCSO as a road patrol deputy and was heavily involved in the K9 unit. He had previously worked at the Hillsboro Police Department for 10 years. He became jail administrator in 2008, where he was responsible for day to day operations, according to Ward.
Reffitt only became ill on Aug. 14 while assisting on a K9 demonstration, according to Ward. Ward said it was initially thought the open-heart surgery was successful, but after suffering a massive stroke, Reffitt never regained consciousness. The sudden loss has had a great impact at the HCSO.
"This is really hard," Ward said. "First and foremost, he was a good friend, he was a great dad, a loving husband, a true family man and an outstanding public servant."
Ward said Reffitt has three children, Bradley and Sandy who are adults, and Chase, who is 5 years old. Reffitt was married to Shana Reffitt, a 911 communications supervisor at the HCSO.
Ward said full funeral honors will be conducted for Reffitt, an honor of which he is truly deserving.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31 at the Hillsboro Church of Christ. Burial will follow in the Hillsboro Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the church with Fraternal Order of Police Services at 7 p.m. on Monday. For more information visit www.thompsonfunderalhomes.com. "We will be doing a law enforcement funeral and he will be buried with full law enforcement honors, which he absolutely deserved," Ward said.
The Highland County Board of Commissioners have requested that flags be flown at half staff at all county buildings in honor of Reffitt, a gesture Ward said his office "greatly appreciates."
Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson said Reffitt came from a family of law enforcement officers, from his father Orville who worked with the sheriff's office, to his uncle Walt Reffitt, who was a former chief of police and county sheriff.
"Randy had the desire to move forward and achieve and he always did a good job," Thompson said. "When he came to me and said he wanted to move on to the sheriff's office we still had a good working relationship and in a sense, it was like we didn't really lose him because we still got to work with him. I thought a lot of Randy, and sitting here I keep thinking we'll just wake up from this dream. You don't expect things like this to happen."
"We have suffered a tremendous loss here at the sheriff's office," Ward said. He was the absolute example of a public servant, with a tremendous amount of integrity and work ethic. He was somebody I was truly proud to call a friend. There will be a hole in our hearts forever. This is a tremendous loss."
In addition to his dedication to his family and his work with the K9 units, Ward said Reffitt was a black belt in karate, and was an instructor to both children and adults.
"There are countless people who will feel this loss," Ward said. "It's extremely hard here at the office."
[[In-content Ad]]