From the Cherokee Tribune: Reynolds puts in bid for next county sheriff
Staff Reports:
A Canton resident is throwing his name into the hat for the chance to be the next Cherokee County sheriff.
With more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement, including more than a decade at the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Frank Reynolds, 44, announced his intention to run for sheriff last week.
Reynolds said he was encouraged by residents to run so he could continue on the path Sheriff Roger Garrison is leaving behind. Garrison announced last year his plans to retire after his sixth term in office ends in 2016.
“I believe I have a calling to serve the citizens of Cherokee County as their next elected sheriff,” Reynolds said. Reynolds has lived in Canton since his family moved to Cherokee County 32 years ago, he said.
The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office captain and father of three says he considers Cherokee’s department one of the best in the state and wants to ensure the office continues to make progress.
“I love everything about Cherokee County. It is a county with wonderful people, a deep history and a great place to live and raise a family,” Reynolds said. “It is very important to me to provide every citizen with quality law enforcement services that are progressive, yet compassionate and understanding to the needs of the community.”
Reynolds began his career in law enforcement with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office in 1994, under the leadership of Sheriff Garrison, he said.
He served residents at the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office for more than a decade, including eight years on the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team.
After Sept. 11, Reynolds said he felt compelled to serve the country using his law enforcement experience. In 2005, he was selected to join the Department of State’s High-Threat Protection Program as an independent security specialist.
After three years working for the Department of State, Reynolds returned to Cherokee County and began working for the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
In 2009, he was appointed to oversee field operations for the Pickens Sheriff’s Office and was responsible for managing many aspects of the office’s operations, including the annual budget, personnel and equipment.
Now, Reynolds oversees all training and education programs at the Pickens office, while also teaching at the GeorgiaPublic Safety Training Center-Cherokee, in Canton.
A graduate of Reinhardt University, Reynolds earned a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University. He graduated from the Federal Bureau Investigation National Academy, the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the Georgia Chiefs of Police executive training course. Reynolds has also received the Medal of Bravery and Meritorious Service Award, he said.
Along with law enforcement experience, Reynolds is involved in several community organizations, including the Rotary Club of Canton, the Optimist Club of Canton, the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce and the Cherokee County Historical Society.
Reynolds said he believes most residents are law-abiding, honest, hardworking people and said they should be treated with dignity and respect.
If elected as the next Cherokee County sheriff, Reynolds said he would serve residents with honesty, integrity and transparency. Reynolds said he would advocate building strong relationships with residents and meaningful partnerships with local businesses.
If elected, Reynolds also said his vision would include partnering with the Cherokee County School District’s department to maximize safety for students and enhance community relations with businesses and neighborhood watch programs.
Reynolds said if he’s elected, he plans to establish and operate a sheriff’s academy for county residents and also have strict oversight of the department’s budget in order to reduce unnecessary spending.
“America’s elected sheriffs are the only constitutional law enforcement officers in the United States,” Reynolds said. “And as one of the 159 Sheriffs in Georgia, I will exercise all of the authority entrusted to me by the people to defend your rights, liberties and freedoms.”
The Republican primary election will be May 24, 2016.