Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin is seeking re-election as the county’s sheriff, in the upcoming July election.

Griffin was elected in July 1999 and again in July 2010. Griffin was re-elected again in 2004 and 2008.

“I think we have a progressive sheriff’s office, and I want to continue the programs and progress that we have made,” he said. “I enjoy working for the citizens of Decatur County.”

Griffin said some of the programs the Sheriff’s Office has established include:

• A statewide C.H.A.M.P.S. program educating local youth about real-life situations they could encounter.

• A certified SWAT team that serves a specialized unit to respond during crises and safely diffuse high-risk situations.

• A Victim Service Unit, which responds to crime victims 24 hours a day.

• Women’s Defensive Tactics (RAD), program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for women.

• A Child Identification Program (CHIP) providing parents prevention, education and kidnapping awareness, at no cost.

• Decatur County Citizens Against Crime, which was established to allow the citizens to help with the fight against crime in their communities.

• Operation Safe Holiday, allowing store owners and deputies to work together to hinder the possibility of robbery or theft during the holiday season.

• The “Pill Drop” program, which gives citizens the opportunity to safely dispose of their unwanted or expired medications.

Griffin noted that there have been other additional programs implemented under his tenure, and he hopes they help the citizens of Decatur County.

“The role of the sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office, and the deputies, is to help the citizens,” he said. “We must treat the taxpayers as our customers and serve them as efficiently as possible, and with the best use of their tax money as possible.”

He noted that the Sheriff’s Office obtained $150,000 in federal and state grants this year, lessening the burden on local taxpayers.

Griffin is married to Cindy Griffin. They have two sons: Wiley M. Griffin IV is a Grady County Sheriff’s Deputy, and Jim Griffin is a student at Valdosta State University.

He is a member of Bainbridge First United Methodist Church.