(Cleveland)- White County Sheriff’s Captain Rick Kelley has announced that he will qualify as a candidate for Sheriff next year. Kelley, who is 42 years old is a White County native raised in Cleveland.
Kelley began his law enforcement career with the White County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 after graduating from the University of North Georgia with a degree in Criminal Justice. He’s worked as a jailer and patrol officer and currently heads the Criminal Investigations Division.
Kelley also serves on the White County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team.
“I want to take a proactive and aggressive stance against the crime rate and drug problem we have in this county,” Kelley said when announcing his decision to run. He outlined some things he’d like to accomplish if elected.
“My plan is to implement a crime suppression unit. This unit will target problem areas within the county using aggressive and concentrated patrol techniques to help aid our investigators and our drug task force. I will be able to implement this unit using existing personnel,” said Kelley. Capt. Kelley said he would also like to add a K-9 to White County’s Patrol Division to assist deputies with detecting drugs. He also wants to move the Sheriff’s Office toward a more community-oriented style of policing. In an effort to do that, Kelley said he’d like to start a citizen’s law enforcement academy at the Sheriff’s Office to help the community better understand how law enforcement works and hold educational seminars for the public.
White County’s long-time Sheriff, Neal Walden, recently announced he will not seek reelection next year. Walden has been with the sheriff’s office for 40 years and has served as sheriff for the past 28 years.
