For the 29-year law enforcement veteran, the week has been a whirlwind, starting with Monday's surprise decision by the Halifax County Board of Commissioners to appoint him sheriff, avoiding a deadlock that could have continued until the May primary.

About as soon as the commissioners made their decision, Tripp said he began receiving text messages of congratulations and links to social networking statuses announcing his appointment. “I didn't want to believe this,” Tripp said following the oath of office. “I just wanted to hear it from the county.”

Tripp purposely didn't attend the meeting, not thinking it was necessary to.

Deputies and other officers were also sworn in today.

Tripp plans to run for sheriff and has already given notice to the county Board of Elections he intends to file in February and run in the May primary.

As far as the outcome of whether the commissioners would make an appointment given the likelihood of a continued deadlock, he said, “I put it in God's hand. I gave God all the praise and glory.”

Tripp said he respects the board's decision and believes each of the candidates vying for the appointment “would have been qualified to sit in this chair.”

What's next for Tripp is to continue to carry on the work left by former Sheriff Jeff Frazier. He said he is willing to work with commissioners on the jail expansion project.

Tripp briefs deputies before the ceremony.

Tripp said it was hard to describe the feeling standing before Judge Alma Hinton and taking the oath of office. “You spend 29 years preparing for this and don't know what hit you. Monday was a numbing day.”

The reality sank in as his wife of 28 years Karen held the Bible with him and friends like Commissioner Vernon Bryant and Brent Massey watched.

In a statement, Tripp said, “I would like to thank everyone for your support in this appointment process. I am humbled to have taken the oath of office as sheriff of Halifax County.”

Tripp oversees the signing of oaths along with Judge Hinton.

Tripp began his career in 1984 as a jailor within the office and for the last six-and-a-half years has worked as chief deputy, climbing his way up the ranks.

His son, Wes, who attends college in Tennessee, could not attend as the events leading up to his appointment Monday caught the family off guard.

“In the last several years I have been preparing for this opportunity,” he said in the statement. “Our main focus will be to carry forward our work as professionals in the Halifax County Sheriff's Office and continue to move forward to have fair, just and equal law enforcement for the citizens of Halifax County.”