Jeff Perry announces campaign for Dawson County Sheriff

PRESS RELEASE

DAWSONVILLE, Ga. — Today, Retired Chief and 27-year law enforcement
veteran, Jeff Perry, officially announced his campaign for Dawson County Sheriff in
2020. Perry presently teaches Criminal Justice in the Dawson County School System. Perry was tasked with starting a Criminal Justice Program in Dawson County. Perry started the program two years ago, he teaches Intro to Criminal Justice, Criminal Justice Essentials and Criminal Investigations to Junior High and High School Students

Said Perry, “I am excited to announce my campaign for Sheriff. My family and I have deep-roots here in Dawson County. I am running for Sheriff to serve the citizens of Dawson County because there is nothing more important to me than keeping our families safe, and bringing capable leadership to the top law enforcement position in the county.”

“I believe I can bring a depth of experience to the Sheriff’s Office that is unmatched,
with 27 years of experience in law enforcement, tough decision making and experience with managing a budget and staff.

Perry served as Chief for 19 years over an area that consisted of seven (7) rural and urban counties and three offices in Northeast Georia. Said Perry, “I promise to bring effective leadership, employee accountability and fiscal responsibility to the office of Sheriff.”
Perry stressed his record of managing during tough economic times, “I often thought my name was “Do more with less” because I heard it so much.”

Perry stated, “As an elected official, capable management of tax payer dollars should be one of the highest priorities.” As Sheriff I will ensure taxpayer dollars fund agency missions instead of expensive overruns and failed planning. I will not ask for additional monies until every tax payer dollar is accounted for. The job of Sheriff is too important to leave to the inexperienced or to those who may lack the vision and leadership to effectively do the job.”

Perry plans to initiate a fierce anti-drug campaign through education and enforcement.   “As foster parents, Lisa and I have seen first hand the effects of drugs on innocent children and families,” he said.

Perry’s message to drug dealers, “If you sell, possess or push drugs in Dawson County we will arrest you.”

A high priority will be working with the accountability courts such as Drug Court, DUI Court and Family Court. Perry stated that open communication with the community is vital and as Sheriff, Perry promises to keep the community informed and engaged regarding crime and developments in Dawson County. Perry feels it’s important to seek community input if nothing more than to ascertain how the department is doing.

Perry plans to set aside one day a month for citizens. Citizens Day, as Perry called it, will be an opportunity for members of the community to come in and meet with the Sheriff, no appointments needed, Perry said on Citizens Day he will be in the office at 7:00 AM and stay till 7:00 PM, in an effort to meet with all citizens that come in that day. Perry stated he would also conduct quarterly meetings or town hall meetings with the citizens. Perry stated that he would go into local communities, sub-divisions, etc. to discuss with citizens safety tips, security suggestions and department news.

“I ask for your trust, your prayers and your vote so I can put my decades of experience to work to protect and serve you, the people of Dawson County as your Sheriff,” continued Perry.

Perry stated he would be discussing his strategic plan with citizens in the upcoming months.

More about Jeff Perry:
Jeff Perry served as a Parole Officer with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles for 27 years. For the last 19 years, he served as a Chief. At his retirement Perry was one of the longest serving Chiefs in the agency. As Chief, Perry managed a large district area consisting of 7 rural and urban counties where he worked to achieve top goals—chief among them: keeping our families safe. Perry has been responsible for working in conjunction with multiple Sheriffs Offices, Police Departments, Drug Task Forces, managing a staff of employees, devising strategic plans, managing budgets and directing day-to-day operations.

As noted, Perry started a Criminal Justice Program for Junior High and High School students. He completed his teaching certification while developing and teaching the Criminal Justice Program in Dawson County. The program is one of only a few in Northeast GA. Perry also served as a Junior High Assistant Basketball Coach in 2018-19.

Perry’s experience in law enforcement is unmatched. He completed law enforcement basic training in 1990 and has completed over 1600 hours of training since that time. His training hours have been focused in the areas of tactical communications, improvised explosive devices, Georgia Criminal Law, Georgia Constitution Law, Gangs, Drug ID/Clandestine Drug Labs, Anti-Terrorism, VIP Protective Operations and Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs. Perry is a Post Certified Firearms Instructor and an Adjunct Instructor. Perry was chosen to serve on numerous federal, state and local task forces and was assigned to the 1996 Olympic Law Enforcement Team SOLEC (State Olympic Law Enforcement Command) and as a law enforcement supervisor for the 2004 G-8 Summit of World Leaders. Perry led a team of state officers and Atlanta Police Department officers during G-8. Perry previously worked on a US Marshall’s Sex Offender Task Force. He has been involved with CART (Child Abduction Response Team).

Jeff earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia Southern
University and has completed Post-Graduate Coursework. Perry completed his Internship with the Statesboro Police Department were he was assigned to the Patrol and Detective Divisions. Perry completed the Certified Public Managers Program through the Carl Vinson Institute at UGA and has completed numerous leadership and professional classes, including Leadership Dawson. Perry and his office have been recognized with numerous individual and officer awards.

Perry and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 30 years and are the proud parents of two grown children, Jacob Perry and Jade Perry. Perry and his wife, Lisa, have also been involved with foster parenting in our community. Lisa retired in 2019 as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Dawson County School System. Jeff and Lisa Perry are committed to our community. Jeff Perry is an active member of Liberty Baptist Church in Dawson County where he is a Deacon and currently serves as the Chairman of the Deacon Board. He has served as a youth director, Sunday school teacher, property trustee, and as Sunday School Superintendent. Jeff is a former Jaycee, a charter member of the Dawsonville Civitan Club and a long-time youth community coach for soccer, basketball, baseball and softball. Perry holds or has held past memberships in the following professional affiliations The GA Sheriff Association, Peace Officers of GA, Parole Association of GA, National Major Gang Task Force, National Rifle Association (NRA), Professional Association of Georgia Educators and the Dawson County Republican Party.