NATCHEZ — Since late July the Adams County Sheriff’s Office investigation division has been under the leadership of a new man.

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Maj. Ricky Stevens replaced former Maj. Jody Waldrop as the office’s manager of the investigation division.

“His knowledge and his experience made him the ideal person to fill the position,” Adams County Sheriff Angie Brown said. “He definitely knows what he’s doing; we have a lot of confidence in him.”

Waldrop, as a result of leg injury he received several years ago, was declared disabled and unable to work after complications with the long-time injury resurfaced again months ago.

Waldrop could not be reached for comment Friday.

Brown said while no one at the sheriff’s office was happy to learn Waldrop was no longer able to work, naming Stevens as Waldrop’s replacement wasn’t difficult.

“He was the obvious choice,” Brown said.

Stevens began his law enforcement career in 1976 at the Natchez Police Department.

He worked under Adams County Sheriff Tommy Ferrell before retiring.

After Sheriff Ronny Brown was elected, Stevens came out of retirement and returned to the ACSO.

And now, with his promotion he has no future plans for retirement.

“This is a little more pressure,” Stevens said of his new job. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”