Colquitt County Administrator Chas Cannon, left, reads a proclamation honoring outgoing Sheriff Al Whittington's service to law enforcement over a three-decade career that included 16 years in charge of the Colquitt County Sheriff's Office.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — A reception Monday night honored outgoing sheriff Al Whittington at the Colquitt County Ag Building, near the Colquitt County Justice Building that contains the Sheriff’s Office and Jail.

In addition to a plaque presented in Whittington’s honor, officials swore in his replacement, former jail superintendent Rod Howell.

Whittington, who’s been sheriff for 16 years, did not run for re-election. Howell defeated two other Republicans in the spring primary and a Democrat plus a write-in candidate during the general election to replace Whittington.

Also at Monday’s event, Whittington was sworn in as the county commissioner for District 4. He won a contested primary in the spring and ran unopposed in November.