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LEE CO., IA. -- A 32-year mainstay in southeast Iowa law enforcement will retire in about two months.

Lee County Sheriff Buck Jones announced to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, June 1st, that he will retire August sixth.

KHQA's Jarod Wells sat down with the 59-year-old sheriff to look back on his career and find out what's next.

Sheriff Buck Jones began his law enforcement career as a road deputy for the Lee County Sheriff's Department in 1978.

Jones said, "I was a road deputy until 1989, at which time I was appointed the first criminal investigation Lee County ever had."

From there Sheriff Jones became a member of the Lee County Narcotics Task Force as an investigator and field supervisor until 1997 when he became a jail administrator. He became chief deputy in 2002. Three years later, he was appointed to his current position of Lee County Sheriff.

Jones said, "I've got 32 years in. Since 1989, I've probably spent more time in this sheriff's office, well not this one, but the old sheriff's, than I did with my family. I think it's time now, and I'm getting to the age where I want to spend some time with my grandkids. I have 10 grandkids. I want to play some golf."

Jones' priorities might have changed, but he says he's still proud of every second of those 32 years.

Jones said, "I was one of the founders of the Lee County Narcotics Task Force. I've held every position in the Lee County Sheriff's except for the rank of sergeant, which I established in 2005 after I took office."

Sheriff Jones says he is also proud of the jail project and expansion..as well as the overall state of the sheriff's department. He says he's ready for time with his grandkids and some golf courses, but there is plenty he's going to miss.

Jones said, "It's going to bother me because I'm going to miss the people I work with, the men and women that work for me here. I'm going to miss them, but I'm also going to miss the public."

The sheriff's position opening will be put on the November ballot to fill the rest of his term which ends in 2012.

Until that election Chief Deputy Jim Scholl will replace Sheriff Jones.

Scholl has had a very similar career, and Jones says Scholl is the man for the job.