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A captain with the Jackson County Sheriff's Office retired Friday after 33 years with the corrections department. Capt. Dan Penland started with the department as a corrections deputy in the 1980s. He said the highlight of his career came last December, when he received the Jail Manager of the Year award from the Oregon State Sheriffs' Association. "You're recognized by your peers throughout the state with an honor that's one person each year," said Penland. "It's nice that people think of you that way." Leaving his post at the Jackson County Jail was a bittersweet moment for Penland. While he said he's looking forward to spending more time with his grandchildren, leaving his team is not easy. "I know that's kind of a cliche, but it's really true around here," he said. "The people, the clerks and the deputies who work directly with the inmates, allowed me to do the things that I've done in my career, so I really appreciate them." Penland said dealing with the size of the jail has been one of the biggest challenges during his career. Though it's an expensive and timely project, he hopes to see a new jail in the future. "I think that's probably the biggest thing we can do for our criminal justice system in Jackson County to make it flow even more smoothly than it does," he said. Lt. Josh Aldrich will be taking over Penland's position. Penland said Aldrich served as his right-hand man, and he's confident in the future of the corrections department.