Mecum retires Friday

ATLANTA - Former Hall County Sheriff Dick Mecum ends a 33-year career in law enforcement Friday as he steps down as U.S. Marshal for the Northern District of Georgia.

Mecum said in July he was going to retire after the White House announced that he would be replaced. (See earlier story.)

Mecum replaced a Bill Clinton appointee when George W. Bush named him to the post in 2002. A retirement party is planned at Mecum's office in Atlanta Friday morning at 11:00.