As Sheriff of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, I am seeking reelection to continue to work hard for and with the citizens of Columbia County.

As your Sheriff, I will continue to focus on Community Oriented Policing programs where the Sheriff’s Office works together with the citizens of Columbia County to address many of the issues that affect the safety and wellness of our community. To this end, I have overseen the hiring of four additional deputies that allows for increased proactive enforcement which will reduce crime levels and increase overall community safety.

Over the past four years I have strived to strengthen law enforcement/community relationships through citizen’s academy, town hall meetings, legislative forums, open letters to the public and an open-door policy within my office. I have and will continue to work with local, regional, and state departments and community organizations such as regional law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutor’s office, drug task force, county commissioners, mental health, hospital, schools, coalitions, and other local groups as part of a Community Oriented Policing program.

Even with the challenges presented by the pandemic, legislative issues, and changes in the law that affected the way law enforcement could respond, I worked hard to increase staffing levels, quality of training, and proper equipment that is necessary to ensure the safety of our deputies and the safety of our community. I have also reestablished dormant programs to include Search and Rescue and the Boating program.

As we move forward, I plan to establish needed programs that involve the community, such as a crime watch program, Volunteer Sheriff’s Posse, firearms safety programs, and other needed future programs deemed necessary to ensure the safety and security of the community and address the rise in drug and property crimes that plague our State and local community.

My personal belief is that the youth of our community is our future. I always have been and always will be heavily involved both personally and professionally with the youth of our community. I feel there is a strong need for the Sheriff’s Office to be involved with our schools, youth programs, and interacting with our youth on all levels to ensure the safety and security of their future.

Believing in leadership by example, my wife and I have been foster parents for several years and have personally seen how alcohol, drugs, and crime affect children. I have and continue to participate in several programs involving our youth, such as the Coalition for Youth and Families, sports programs, faith-based youth groups, school programs, and the National Organization Fight Crime-Invest in Kids program.

In conclusion, under my leadership Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has made great strides towards public safety by connecting with and working hand in hand with the citizens of our community. Under my direction, this is and always will be a top priority and goal under of the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office.

-Submitted by Joe Helm.