Career law enforcement professionals become accustomed to the unusual and pride themselves on being prepared for and dealing with whatever may happen.  But when you've worked for a department that hadn't last an officer in the line of duty since 1931, you expect to see each other at the end of the shift. 

That's why every employee of the Fannin County Sheriff's Department will always remember January 7, 2007.  

Deputy Rahamy Mitchell, a six-year veteran of the Fannin County Sheriff's Office was on his way to back up a Leonard Police Officer about 1:00 a.m. that fateful morning when Deputy Mitchell's car lost traction on rain-slick Hwy 11, went into a spin, rolled and ejected Mitchell.  Trenton Police Officers were the first to arrive at the one-vehicle accident and discover the fatality.

Now, every year on January 7, members of the Fannin County Sheriff's Department gathers, not to say goodbye to an old friend, but to say a prayer, light a candle and share memories of a deputy that will always be an important part of this law enforcement team. 

This year, the evening sky was full of fire as a colorful sunset blazed red before giving way to nightfall.  Then, as candles illuminated the dozens of faces in the crowd that filled much of the parking lot in front of the Fannin County Jail, Sheriff Kenneth Moore took a few minutes to recall a few interesting experiences that came up during the two years that Deputy Mitchell worked for him. 

For instance, there was the time Sheriff Moore showed up at his jail and was told he had a real dog in the drunk tank--only to find out it was an actual canine incarcerated, courtesy of Deputy Mitchell.  Seems that a fellow Mitchell brought in on a DUI had no place to leave his best friend.  Evidently, Sheriff Moore explained a few options to pursue should the situation present itself again.

As emotion flooded the sheriff's voice, it became obvious that two years haven't managed to fade the memory of the man Sheriff Moore called his "gentle giant."

"As long as I'm here, as long as I'm your sheriff, I'm going to do this," Sheriff Moore said of the candlelight service.  

"You won't be alone," answered Bobby Don Brown, a longtime employee at the Fannin County Sheriff's Department.