Chad Hunton for Paulding Sheriff 

At the close of March, we initiated contact with all Paulding County candidates, extending an invitation for them to address common questions posed by the community. Enclosed are their unaltered responses to these inquiries, providing insight into their respective stances. While not all candidates opted to participate, we believe that understanding their viewpoints is pivotal in making informed decisions as constituents.

Chad Hunton’s ANSWER

1. Tell us about yourself. I am married to Jennifer, we have 5 children, a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and grandson. I graduated from Paulding County High School, served in the United States Marin Corp Reserves, I have an Associates of Science Degree in Criminal Justice along with multiple Georgia POST Certifications. I like hunting, fishing, and taking care of our animals. I have been with Paulding County Sheriff’s Office since July of 1997. I serve on several boards in the county for different community groups, Family Alliance of Paulding, Paulding Recovery Community Organization (steering committee), Shepherd’s Rest Ministries, NAMI Paulding Emerging, and prior board member of Paulding FCA. We attend Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Dallas.
2. What motivated you to pursue a career in law enforcement, and how has your experience prepared you for the role of sheriff? I grew up listening to my family telling stories about being a police officer and deputy sheriff, I knew from a young age I wanted to serve the community I grew up in. When I came home from my training in the Marines, I had an opportunity at the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Bruce Harris hired me to work in the Jail. After I received my peace officer certification, I started with the Patrol Division, (in December of 1998 we started our SWAT team and I was one of the original members until 2017, from 2014 to 2017 serving as the SWAT Commander.) (Also, in 1998 we started our Honor Guard Unit serving until 2014, last two years as Honor Guard Commander.) In December of 1998 I was also selected for the Crime Suppression Unit, in 2001 was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to Uniform Patrol Division, as my first supervisor position. In 2003 transferred to our Training Division where we enhanced our Field Training Evaluation Program, started a patrol rifle program, and neighborhood watch. During this time, we also conducted policy and procedure revision with online access. Promoted to Lieutenant and appointed Director of Training during my time with the division. 2008 appointed as Warrants/Civil Division Commander being promoted to Captain. 2010 appointed as Jail Administrator and promoted to Major. We were able to get the Jail to Georgia Jail Standards with the Georgia Sheriff’s Association and developed a classification system that is still being used to date with revisions. Started working with community for rehabilitation services and we also revised policy and procedure for jail operations. 2014 appointed as Chief Administrator and promoted to Lt. Colonel, assisting the Chief Deputy and Sheriff with day-to-day operations of Sheriff’s Office, started streamlining budget and budget request with command staff to help us be more proficient and meeting agency needs. 2017 appointed Chief Deputy and promoted to Colonel, still handling day-to-day operations with command staff, and building a good team by collaborating and working together. Having worked in these different positions and listening to our staff, by focusing on the needs and desires of others, has led to my success in our Office. It takes all our staff to serve our community. Having these experiences in our different divisions and gaining this knowledge has prepared me to be the next Sheriff.
3. How do you plan to ensure accountability and transparency within the sheriff’s department? One of our pillars is policy and oversight, as I expect the residents of Paulding to hold me accountable, we will expect the same from our staff. We will use social media, our website, and other media outlets to help keep the citizens up to date internally as well as externally.
4. Can you outline your strategy for recruiting qualified candidates to join the department? Another pillar being under wellness and safety of staff. Including equipment, peer support and by expanding our educational incentives and working to set our pay scale to reward those who are currently working with us, we will then be able to attract other certified peace officers to join our ranks to help fill our vacancies. Where they can receive compatible pay for their previous service. Creating an environment where staff feel they have career growth and opportunities, through education and incentives, but also allowing staff to work to their strengths and find where they fit best with the agency.
5. How do you plan to retain experienced deputies and ensure their job satisfaction and well-being? Allowing staff to work to their strengths and continuing their education and training in areas of interest, allowing them to work towards their career goals. Creating a workplace where they can grow, performing at a higher standard for our citizens. As stated, before continuing to expand our peer support services and outside services, bringing more benefits for the staff and their families.
6. What measures would you implement to address concerns related to compensation for deputies and ensure competitive pay? I believe having a pay scale that rewards staff for their years of service, education, competitive benefits and enhancing our pension will assist in this area. In the last 3 years we have been able to increase our starting pay for Jailers and Deputies by $4 an hour, also in 2019 we were able to reduce our retirement age from 65 to 59 and increase our pension benefits, by continuing to work with the BOC we can enhance these areas.
7. What initiatives would you implement to enhance training and professional development opportunities for deputies? We will continue to use different training groups to bring training to the agency, allowing staff to attend here in Paulding. Along with seeking other classes outside the agency, to help us develop and grow. Giving staff the opportunity to learn new skills and ideas to bring back to the agency. Promoting career growth and specialized training opportunities.
8. How do you plan to address concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department? My approach has always been to love thy neighbor as thy self. This is vital to our community and our office. We welcome all who have an interest in serving in any compacity and meet the qualifications to do so.
9. What steps would you take to enhance community policing efforts and build trust between law enforcement and residents? As we build our team, we will be able to have deputies concentrate in zones that divide the county up into smaller areas for assignment. This will allow the deputies to learn about the area, know residents and those who may not belong. By building these relationships with the community we can ensure trust, and commitment from both us and the residents. Also, continuing to join and support community partners who provide services to our residents, ensuring staff are aware of these services as resources for those in need.
10. Can you discuss your approach to handling cold cases and unsolved crimes within the county? My initial approach will be to attract retired homicide and felony case Investigators to allow them to come in and review all case information and evidence. Tasking them to find anything that may have been missed, overlooked, or neglected to help us develop leads and additional evidence. This will allow our detectives to concentrate on hot cases and relieve them until more leads are developed or action is required.
11. How would you prioritize resources and allocate funding to support investigations into cold cases? By using grant funding and asset forfeiture funds that can be used for this, we can outsource technological resources that are becoming more and more available to assist agencies in their investigations.
12. Can you outline your vision for modernizing the sheriff’s department and leveraging technology to enhance operations and investigations? Continuing our efforts to utilize grant funding we can build upon areas we have already started, including license plate readers, technological equipment to aid in location of wanted persons and vehicles, criminal analysis technicians to help identify
    criminal patterns and areas of concentration, also continuing to enhance technology for staff to make us more proficient and providing better services for the community. This would include adding more body cameras for staff, enhancing the equipment, and continuing to build out what we have started.
13. What measures would you implement to address concerns related to mental health and crisis intervention training for deputies? This initiative was started two years ago by offering an incentive for Senior Jailer and Senior Deputy Certifications, they include that staff successfully complete Crisis Intervention Training. We have also contracted with mental health services for our Jail since 2014. We will continue to build on this to provide services on calls for service by working with outside organizations like NAMI, and DBHDD mobile crisis.
14. How would you handle issues related to misconduct or complaints against deputies within the department? These will be investigated and handled appropriately, there have been incidents where there has been no formal complaint, and our Internal Affairs will investigate based upon the knowledge of supervisors or command staff. We have updated software to monitor our use of force encounters and formed a use of force board along with newer procedures to aid us in identifying any possible issues that may arise. These will be in continuous review to enhance and develop more accuracy. These procedures will help identify needs for additional training, discipline or even termination.
15. What steps would you take to address substance abuse and addiction issues within the county? We currently provide resources to our inmate population along with addiction services, like our current program Celebrate Recovery, we also this year started an MOU with the Paulding Recovery Community Organization, by continuing to work with them and with other rehabilitation organizations we can help distribute and connect citizens with these valuable resources. By continuing to support our DARE program, Alcohol Drug Awareness Days at schools and organizations like Drug Free Paulding we can assist in the education of youth and families of the dangers of addiction.
16. How do you plan to collaborate with local government agencies, community organizations, and residents to address crime and public safety concerns? By continuing to have good working relationships with our other partners, by sharing information, communicating regularly we can work together to help each other with combating crime. The community organizations such as CASA, Family Connections and Pastors Alliance who assist us and provide valuable resources to us and the community will be paramount to our success as an organization. By meeting and listening to our citizens we can better serve them, as stated before, by concentrating on the needs and desires of others, our needs will be met.
17. How do you plan to handle issues related to juvenile delinquency and implement programs to prevent youth involvement in criminal activity? With our School Resource Deputies developing relationships with youth and other deputies participating in the community as coaches, mentors, and expanding our Youth Cadet Program I believe we can have an impact on our youth. These issues also start at home, so continuing efforts to help organizations like Family Alliance of Paulding and our BOE social workers we can help change lives of families in need. Making a better home environment for our underserved youth. Supporting school back programs and other organizations like Truth in Nature, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes, and others we can make an impact that can change generations.
18. Can you discuss your approach to handling protests or civil unrest within the county while ensuring the protection of First Amendment rights? As a constitutional office, the First Amendment must be protected, but at the same
    time must require order and safety. In 2019 we started a Special Response Team (SRT) that trains weekly to be prepared to respond to protest or civil unrest, this is to protect those expressing their First Amendment right but also to ensure every one’s safety in an event that may become out of control or needing civil intersession to protect all involved. This is separate from our SWAT team, as I believe there are different stages in the type of peace officer presence, naturally you have your civil looking Uniform Patrol Deputy, then we would have our SRT that is equipped for these types of events and then SWAT if needed for unrest or out of control situations.
19. How do you plan to address challenges related to budget constraints and resource allocation within the sheriff’s department? Thus far the BOC has been very considerate with our operations budget, and we will continue to work the grant market to help us be good stewards with county tax dollars.
20. Can you discuss your approach to addressing the opioid epidemic and other public health crises affecting the county? Current and future needs such as naloxone have been purchased with grant funding for all deputies to have access to protect them and others, who they may encounter. Working with community organizations such as Paulding RCO, Drug Free Paulding, rehabilitation organizations and Mental Health we can help those wanting help. Our Drug Task Force will vigorously work to identify those selling and dealing these dangerous narcotics to build cases to prosecute. We will build upon our uniform presence with the Drug Task Force to aid in the arrest and capture of those who are selling, transporting, and delivering narcotics to our county.
21. How would you prioritize efforts to combat domestic violence and support victims within the community? With Paulding being a bedroom community, this is our highest call volume. By collaborating with organizations like Shepherd’s Rest Ministries we can help connect victims to services when they are ready for help. Nationally, a victim of domestic violence will have up to 7 encounters with law enforcement before they will decide to take advantage of resources. I would like the domestic violence task force to activate again in Paulding, this was a group from different agencies and organizations that collaborated and worked to help bring awareness and prosecutions of domestic violence. Working closely with our Solicitor General and District Attorney we can educate our deputies and aid them in making solid prosecutable cases in this area as well.
22. What steps would you take to improve overall public safety in our community, beyond traditional law enforcement methods? By communicating more with the public, we can bring more awareness and education so they can protect and guard themselves from the criminal element. Building relationships with residents and business owners, we can help the community from victimization. Utilizing social media to help with this and other media outlets, we need to be able to reach all of those of concern. With the use of technological crime fighting tools and data analysis we can be more proactive as well. Thus, creating a safer place for all.
23. Can you discuss your plans for enhancing emergency preparedness and response capabilities within the sheriff’s department? There are areas where we can enhance our ability to be better prepared to help our partners such as Fire Rescue. With time I do believe we can get the training, staff, and equipment to be able to respond and assist. As an example, we do not have a dive team or equipment to do these types of operations and currently must use other resources. We will continue to educate about our Life Saver Project for those with special needs and mental health disorders, this assists us if they go missing or wander off. We learned a lot through the COVID pandemic on preparedness and being able to respond to different needs in the community. We have and will continue to keep good equipment to be able to respond to natural disasters such as tornadoes and inclement weather. Currently, we have been focusing over the last several years to be prepared for response to active shooter type scenarios with our equipment. Deputies are equipped with protective gear for these type scenarios, to better protect them so they can protect others. We must keep this equipment up to date and requires repurchasing due to manufacture expiration dates.
24. What is your long-term vision for the sheriff’s department, and how do you plan to measure success in achieving your goals? Long term vision is to prepare the younger staff to be able to continue our mission for the community, through education, training, setting career goals, and fostering staff ideas and making them part of our growth. Making the Sheriff’s Office an agency where others want to come and join our family, by fulfilling their calling to serve their community. We need guardians to protect the innocent from deception and those who intend to cause harm, but being a Sheriff and a staff member is so much more than just locking people up, we must be vested in the community working with residents and community organizations to make our home better than anywhere else. The success of these goals will be measured by the response from the community, and staff. I expect to be held accountable to the citizens we serve.
25. Additionally, we invite you to provide a closing statement that you feel we may have missed, allowing you to share any additional thoughts or insights with the community. I have been called to serve our community and staff; I was taught in the Marine Corp if you take care of those under your charge they will take care of you. That is why as a proven leader who has grown and lead within the Sheriff’s Office in many compacities God has prepared me to be the next Sheriff, “if we concentrate on the needs and desires of others our needs will be met.” God has called me to serve and protect, and that’s what I will continue to do. ~Chad

For further insight into Chad Hunton’s platform and initiatives, please visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chadhunton or explore his website at chadhunton.com.