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Sheriff Long was a veteran officer, who surprised many with his win over longtime Sheriff John Cupp in 2006. Long brought with him a host of law enforcement colleagues, friends and supporters when he took office.
The news of Sheriff Billy Long's arrest came as a shock to the people we talked to today. And as you might expect citizens and county officials are not quite sure what to think of Hamilton County's top cop facing up to 50 years in jail.
Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey admits, "its a sad day for Hamilton County. it's a sad day to be a public official in Hamilton County." Ramsey reacts to the news about Sheriff Billy Long's arrest. Chief Deputy Allan Branum's reaction is not much different, saying, "i'm very surprised. And if these allegations are true I'm very disappointed." Branum has assumed the sheriff's duties in the interim. County residents like Nola Rucker, are shocked to find that instead of protecting citizens, someone in Billy Long's position may have been threatening them instead. Rucker says, "thats kind of scary. You would trust your sheriff to be an honest person and to do the right thing." And while Sheriff Long is in charge of the county law enforcement, his actions reflect on the city of Chattanooga as well. Jamie Greiner adds, "certainly as a citizen of Chattanooga its disappointing, You know you hate to have anything that would be detrimental to the face of the city." A visably shaken Mayor Ramsey says that the county has an obligation to provide good law enforcement to the people, and now county officials have to take the next step. "Its important that we pick up the pieces and move forward. Its important that we have good law enforcment." Chief Deputy Branum also says that this devastates many in the community and citizens agree. "Very shocking and quite disturbing actually."
County Mayor Ramsey, along with commission Chairman Bill Hullander met with sheriff's department employees later today, to ask for their cooperation in maintaining strong law enforcement in the county while the investigation is going on. 
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