MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WGNS) - Rutherford County Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh announced he will retire next August and not pursue another four-year term in 2026.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve the people of Rutherford County,” Fitzhugh said. “From the beginning, I’ve sought to leave this department better than I found it by focusing on service, accountability and a workplace where people are proud to come each day.”

The announcement came Monday on the sheriff's department Facebook page.

During his tenure, Fitzhugh emphasized public safety with increased patrols, enhanced school drug detection, and the creation of a monitored “safe zone” for secure transactions.

His leadership also earned nine consecutive flawless re-certifications of the Adult Detention Center and secured national certification for the Property and Evidence Unit.

Modernization was another hallmark of his service, with upgrades to dispatch and records systems, the launch of drone and camera units, and a transition to cloud storage.

On the financial front, Fitzhugh consistently kept the Sheriff’s Office under budget, introduced a fleet leasing program to reduce costs, and oversaw energy-efficient upgrades at the detention center that cut utility expenses.

He also expanded inmate education and job-training programs in partnership with local organizations, aimed at reducing repeat offenses and improving re-entry into the community.

Fitzhugh further streamlined operations by reducing management layers and aligning job classifications to improve efficiency.