TAZEWELL, Va. -Major Harold Heatley is well known by many for his work in Tazewell County law enforcement. One of the people who knows him well is the Tazewell County Sheriff Brian Hieatt, who has worked alongside him for the past twenty years.
“Major Heatley is, you know, he’s a problem-solver; he hits things head on, so from the time that he started in the Town of Tazewell, and became a sergeant, became the Sheriff’s Office in the narcotics division, became Chief Deputy, but he’s somebody who, you know, sees a problem, he wants to fix it, he jumps forward and meets it head on,” says Sheriff Hieatt.
However, Major Heatley has decided he’s ready to begin the next stage of his life, retiring from the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department. His position will be filled by former-Captain Jonathan Hankins, who says he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor and be an inspiration to people.
“The legacy that he is going to leave behind is second to none… there’s no one that has a bigger heart, who has more dedication, determination, willpower… He truly is one of a kind,” says new-Major Hankins.
To honor that legacy, Major Heatley was celebrated at a Retirement luncheon, joined by many, including family members and retired law enforcement. We asked him what gave him the two decades of commitment to the area.
“The people, truly, the people… this is my family…” explains Major Heatley, “…these people are the reason I come to work every day, serving the citizens, being involved in the community has just been a blessing…”
Major Heatley calls the new Major Hankins “phenomenal” and encourages the community to support the rest of the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Department as it has supported him throughout these past decades.
Major Heatley says he plans to spend the next twenty years spending time with his grandchildren and going to culinary school.
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