--- title: HR 694. Deese, Sheriff Terry; retirement from the Peach County Sheriff's Department; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr694 cite_as: HR 694, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71579 date: 2025-03-21 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr693.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr695.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 694 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-21 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Robert Dickey - Bethany Ballard text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR694/2025 upstream_id: 2012767 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - law enforcement - Peach County - sheriff retirement - legislative commendation --- # HR 694. Deese, Sheriff Terry; retirement from the Peach County Sheriff's Department; commend ## Text 25 LC 129 0385 House Resolution 694 By: Representatives Dickey of the 134th and Ballard of the 147th A RESOLUTION Commending Sheriff Terry Deese upon his retirement from the Pea ch County Sheriff's1 Department; and for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Sheriff Terry Deese has served with honor and distinction at the Peach County3 Sheriff's Office since 1983, serving as Sheriff since 2004; and4 WHEREAS, he is an honest and dedicated public servant who striv es for excellence in all5 of his endeavors and whose primary concern is the welfare and safety of the citizens of Peach6 County; and7 WHEREAS, he is highly regarded by the citizens of his community and by state and local8 government officials as a man of unquestioned integrity and dedication to the administration9 of justice and sound principles of law enforcement; and10 WHEREAS, this spirited law enforcement professional has exhibited extraordinary devotion11 to duty, outstanding loyalty, fine leadership, and meticulous attention to detail in all of his12 duties; and13 H. R. 694 - 1 - 25 LC 129 0385 WHEREAS, Sheriff Terry Deese's efficient and effective commitment to excellence has been14 recognized by his peers through the many decorations and awards he has received, including15 earning the 2017 Sheriff of the Year and the 2012 Trailblazer Award from Fort Valley State16 University; and17 WHEREAS, his inspiring commitment to the welfare of others is an outstanding example of18 the positive effect law enforcement professionals have on the lives and well-being of others;19 and20 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that gratitude is expressed for the unique and21 often unheralded contributions of local law enforcement profess ionals on behalf of the22 citizens of this state.23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that24 the members of this body commend the care, courage, sympathy, a nd selfless dedication25 exhibited by Sheriff Terry Deese in carrying out the difficult duties of his vocation,26 congratulate him upon the grand occasion of his retirement, and express their utmost27 appreciation for having so purely and truly defined for others the meaning of public servant.28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized29 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution ava ilable for distribution to30 Sheriff Terry Deese.31 H. R. 694 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution commends Sheriff Terry Deese of the Peach County Sheriff's Office on his retirement after decades of service, including more than 20 years as sheriff. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It recognizes Sheriff Terry Deese, who served the Peach County Sheriff's Office starting in 1983 and served as Sheriff since 2004, for his career in law enforcement. The resolution lists his accomplishments, including being named 2017 Sheriff of the Year and receiving the 2012 Trailblazer Award from Fort Valley State University. It formally commends him for his dedication and congratulates him on his retirement. The resolution also directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to provide a copy of the document to Sheriff Deese as a keepsake. It does not change any Georgia law. ### What it does - Formally commends Sheriff Terry Deese for his service at the Peach County Sheriff's Office since 1983 and as Sheriff since 2004. - Congratulates him on his retirement and expresses appreciation for his work in law enforcement. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare a copy of the resolution for distribution to Sheriff Deese. ### Who it affects This resolution directly names Sheriff Terry Deese and the Peach County Sheriff's Office. It has no legal effect on other Georgians, agencies, or state law. ### Why it matters The resolution carries no legal or financial consequences; it is a symbolic gesture by the Georgia House of Representatives to publicly honor a retiring local law enforcement official's decades of service to Peach County. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses recount Sheriff Deese's career, starting at the Peach County Sheriff's Office in 1983 and becoming Sheriff in 2004. - The resolution notes his 2017 Sheriff of the Year honor and 2012 Trailblazer Award from Fort Valley State University. - The resolving clause has the House commend and congratulate him on his retirement. - A final clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute a copy of the resolution to Sheriff Deese. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-21) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-03-21) - Sponsors: Robert Dickey, Bethany Ballard - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71579 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr694.md?full=1