Dougherty County Sheriff-elect Terron Hayes lays out agenda items

ALBANY – In the weeks since the Nov. 5 election made his new title official, Dougherty County Sheriff-elect Terron Hayes has been hitting the books while attending a monthlong sheriff’s academy required of all incoming top county law enforcement officers.

When he takes the reins in January, he says he intends to hit the ground running.

Indeed, Hayes has been chomping at the bit, to some extent, to initiate some of the programs he has planned, said Sheriff Kevin Sproul, who endorsed his chief deputy for the job after announcing that he would not be seeking a fifth term in office.

The sheriff noted that Hayes, whose law enforcement career began in 1996 with the Albany Police Department, took a pay cut to take a job with the sheriff’s office because of a shared vision.

Hayes won the May Democratic primary contest and had no Republican opponent in the fall. Now Hayes, the first African American to be elected to the position in the county’s history, will set the agenda for the next four years.

“I’ve got some very big shoes to fill,” he said. “I’m just going to wear the shoes I wear and keep them in good repair. I’m carrying on this task to keep the community proud. It is a great honor for me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure I live up to the standards of this office.

“By being the first elected African American, I’m going to do my best to keep my word to the citizens of Dougherty County and do the things I promised I would do.”

Among his goals are improving educational opportunities at the jail and boosting the office’s involvement in law enforcement.

Georgia sheriffs are the top law enforcement officer in their county, and other constitutional requirements include court duties, security, serving papers and jail administration in counties that have jail facilities.

While the Dougherty County Police Department handles most law enforcement duties outside Albany’s city limits, Hayes said he sees a role for the sheriff’s office as well.

“We’re going to concentrate on some police-related items, like speeding,” he said. “We’re also going to address gun violence in the community. The sheriff’s office will be initiating some resources in the community to address gun violence.

“We’re going to be a law enforcement agency to help reduce crime in the community and keep Dougherty County safe. No. 1 is keeping our citizens safe.”

Providing educational opportunities to inmates is one way to reduce recidivism and help individuals who have brushes with the law to make a positive change and live productive lives, he said. Most jail inmates are awaiting trial or serving sentences of a year or less, so many will return to the community. Jails also house a large percentage of individuals who are experiencing mental illness.

“We’re definitely full speed ahead with our jail and jobs policies,” Hayes said. “We’re making sure we can get our inmates some secondary education and trades so they can be employable.”

The sheriff’s office is partnering with Albany Technical College on educational opportunities, and some of the programs will include a GED program, barbering, welding and ServSafe food certification.

“We want to give them an opportunity,” Hayes said of county inmates. “Once they get out, we want to give them the opportunity to be productive, to be a hand up, not a handout. We’re working on getting these programs, starting them up and getting them going in the new year.”

The jail is by far the biggest line item in the Dougherty County budget, a facility operating every day of the year, and updating the facility is another item on the sheriff-elect’s agenda.

“Our staff has done a phenomenal job,” he said. “It’s time. There’s just some things that need to be replaced. It’s time for some of it to get an upgrade.”

Hayes will oversee some 272 employees, and he said he does not plan to have a large turnover in employees once he takes office.

“We have a great staff,” he said. “Our men and women work really hard and do a really great job. At some point, we will be requesting more manpower. We’re now providing security for the Government Center and the downtown area. At some point, we will have to address our manpower.”

The sheriff’s office began providing security at the Government Center after employees and visitors had some sometimes frightening encounters in the parking decks. Also, in some cases, the stairwells were used as restrooms. Those deputies also patrol the parking facilities and are going to begin patrolling the downtown area.

The incoming sheriff also plans to continue his predecessor’s community outreach efforts, which include an annual barbecue and golf tournament that Hayes established. In partnership with the Albany Police Department, the agencies provide a summer camp for youths each year.

For now, the sheriff-elect is about halfway through his four-week course and will graduate from the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Training Academy on Dec. 13.

“It’s a lot,” he said. “It teaches you a lot. I have great respect for the office of sheriff. We’re excited about this opportunity, and we’re definitely going to do everything we can to make Albany-Dougherty County safe. I thank the citizens for their trust and support.”

Staff Photo: Alan MauldinAlanMauldin[email protected]
https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/f714026fc83d6150ab9a4350b4169940?s=100&d=mm&r=g