VALDOSTA — Governor Sonny Perdue and Attorney General Thurbert Baker were among several guests honored during the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Banquet at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center Wednesday evening.

The banquet was part of the association’s 3-day 2008 Summer Training Conference, which began Tuesday and welcomed sheriffs throughout the state. During the banquet the guest speakers, Perdue and Thurbert, focused on the important roles sheriffs play in public safety, overcoming economic distress and discussions about sex offender laws and guidelines.

“The office of sheriff is a very powerful, discretionary position...as sheriff, you are the backbone of our law enforcement,” Perdue said. “I congratulate and thank the Georgia Sheriff’s Association for these conferences because they provide training to form one strong barrier between the public and evil.”

Perdue added his intentions to continue to work with federal partners to keep grants in place for Georgia’s sheriff departments despite the present state of the economy.

Later in the banquet, Lowndes County Sheriff Ashley Paulk was honored for serving as the host sheriff for the conference. The association also bid farewell to its president, Harris County Sheriff Mike Jolley and welcomed Jefferson County Sheriff Gary Hutchins as the new president.

Training will resume today from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Afterward, the association will adjourn until the fall conference in November.