Seventy Sheriffs from around the state recently participated in the three-day annual Summer Training Conference held at Lake Lanier Islands. The Sheriffs attended multiple training sessions, received timely information from subject matter experts, and conducted Association business, including electing new officers.The newly elected officers for the 2020-2021 term were voted in as follows:
- President, Banks County Sheriff Carlton Speed;
- 1st Vice President, Turner County Sheriff Andy Hester;
- 2nd Vice President, Glynn County Sheriff Neal Jump, and
- Secretary-Treasurer, Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie.
New Officers installed for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, Inc. included:
- President, Stephens County Sheriff Randy Shirley;
- 1st Vice President, McIntosh County Sheriff Steve Jessup;
- 2nd Vice President, Troup County Sheriff James Woodruff, and
- Secretary-Treasurer, Glascock County Sheriff Jeremy Kelly.
The conference was otherwise devoted to training sessions to update the Sheriffs on topics relevant to public safety and the Office of Sheriff. Expert speakers provided training to the Sheriffs on legislative and legal issues, biological weapons and preparedness, COVID 19, and the courts, state law enforcement and community relations, among other things.
Sheriff’s Offices in Georgia have many responsibilities such as providing courthouse security, operating jails, transporting inmates and mental health patients, performing traffic and law enforcement functions, registering sex offenders and many more law enforcement actions. Sheriffs are the chief law enforcement officer of each county and have many mandated responsibilities by state law. As a result of these diverse responsibilities, Sheriffs must be knowledgeable of best practices and procedures in many areas. Current concerns of law enforcement, as they relate to the Office of Sheriff, are addressed during training conferences sponsored by the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association.
“Their participation is vital if we are to seek out the best practices in fulfilling these important responsibilities,” stated Terry Norris, Executive Director, Georgia Sheriffs’
Association.
The Sheriffs heard from Georgia Lt. Governor Geoff Duncan, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Executive Director Pete Skandalakis of the Prosecuting Attorney’s Council, Director Homer Bryson of the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, and other state agency heads.The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. is comprised of 159 elected Sheriffs with over 70,000 honorary members throughout the state.
