Corrections officer Tim Crook announces candidacy for Sheriff

CROOK

Tim Crook, an officer at the Wilkes Pre-Release Center, has announced his candidacy for Sheriff of Wilkes County.

P.O.S.T.-certified and an honor graduate from Georgia Department of Corrections OfficersAcademy, Crook has been employed for the last six years by the Georgia Department of Corrections as a Transfer Officerat the Wilkes Pre-Release Center. Certified as a Handgun Expert by the Georgia DOC, Crook is a member of the Peace OfficersAssociation, the NRA, and the QDMA and an Army National Guard veteran.

Crook, 47, is married to the former Deanne Maxwell, owner of Griggs Ficklen Insurance. They have two children, Katye, 16, and Miranda, 10. The family is involved in the revitalization of downtown Washington through the purchase and renovation of several downtown buildings.

As Sheriff, Crook said, he would run the officein a business-like manner to help keep the burden off the taxpayers. "I'm sure there are a lot of upgrades needed in equipment, training, and communications, but it will take revenue the department will have to help generate. I don't expect the County Commissioners to give the new Sheriff a blank check. That's not going to happen."

Some things that Crook says he would address immediately is attitude, he said, "meaning people skills such as courtesy and respect for all citizens. No unnecessary harassment will be tolerated, and proper dress code and phone and radio etiquette should be observed."

Crook said that he believed in "more officerpresence in the county and less hanging around town when the city has its own Police Department."

The Sheriffs Department belongs to the citizens of Wilkes County, Crook says, so the department should work to help citizens by using commonsense judgment. "A good talking-to works a lot better in most cases than throwing someone in jail," he said. "That just causes more grief for our citizens and offenders' families. That's why I chose 'Commonsense Law Enforcement' as my campaign slogan."

As Sheriff, Crook says he would work to take care of the good employees of the department. "There are a lot of good people employed by the Sheriff's Department, and it's a thankless job, especially with the jail employees. I will expect every employee to work for the betterment of the department. We just need some leadership and guidance, which I plan to give them. It's like the old saying, 'so goes the captain, so goes the ship.'"

Crook said he would fight for adequate compensation. "It's very hard to findgood employees and it's very obvious that you have to pay your good employees to keep them."

His biggest attributes, he says, are "my experience with the Georgia Department of Corrections, my love for Wilkes County and its people, my down-to-earth personality and ability to communicate with all walks of life.

"There's no better place in the country than Washington-Wilkes to raise your children and have the comfort of your family being safe," Crook said. "Vote for me and I'll work to keep it that way. My door will always be open for all citizens because I won't forget that my boss is the voters and taxpayers of Wilkes County."