Oconee County, Sheriff James A. Hale Jr.

James is an FBI National Academy graduate. He has experience as a 27-year Oconee County volunteer firefighter, is married, and is a father to four children. He is an 8th-generation member of Antioch Christian Church.

James A Hale Jr has over 25 years of law enforcement experience and is a trained EMT. He has a Senior Deputy Certification, Supervisory Certificate, and is also certified as an Arson Investigator, and Radar Operator. He also served in the US Army. 

James A Hale Jr currently serves as the elected Sheriff of the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office. He has been in office since 2016. 

Candidate website

Supports cross-training for law enforcement, acknowledging their role as initial emergency responders, and promotes their participation in first responder training to enhance life-saving capabilities.

Believes in maintaining a safe community for families, supports strong ties with local schools, has expanded patrol zones for quicker law enforcement response, and has collaborated on implementing a School Crisis Alert System.

Believes in maintaining a safe community for families, supports strong ties with local schools, has expanded patrol zones to hasten law enforcement response, and has collaborated on implementing a School Crisis Alert System.

The candidate's website says, "1) Continue providing deputies with medical and fire safety training"

Plans to continue to provide deputies with medical and fire safety training.

Has training in Narcotics and Gang Investigation, Bombs and Explosives, Human Trafficking, Active Shooter Incident Management, Active Shooter Response, Search Procedures for Wanted & Missing Persons, and more.

- Supports cross-training for law enforcement, acknowledging their role as initial emergency responders, and promotes their participation in first responder training to enhance life-saving capabilities.
- Believes in maintaining a safe community for families, supports strong ties with local schools, has expanded patrol zones to hasten law enforcement response, and has collaborated on implementing a School Crisis Alert System.
- Plans to continue to provide deputies with medical and fire safety training.
- Has training in Narcotics and Gang Investigation, Bombs and Explosives, Human Trafficking, Active Shooter Incident Management, Active Shooter Response, Search Procedures for Wanted & Missing Persons, and more.

Public Safety

While employed at the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, he worked as a jailer.

- While employed at the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, he worked as a jailer.

Jail Management

Said, "As Sheriff, I will always spend your tax dollars respectfully and responsibly... Our office will ALWAYS strive to stay under budget."

- Said, "As Sheriff, I will always spend your tax dollars respectfully and responsibly... Our office will ALWAYS strive to stay under budget."

Criminal Justice

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James A Hale Jr

Ballotpedia, Reginald Wade

Reginald is a native of Oconee County. He served three years of active duty in the Military after graduating Oconee County High School in 1982 then followed this with service in the Army Reserve, retiring as a Command Sergeant Major.

Online Athens, ACCPD veteran hired to run Richmond County school's public safety

Reginald has been a law enforcement officer for over 31 years and is currently serving as a lieutenant for the Athens-Clarke Police Department. He was named chief of the Public Safety Department for the Richmond County School System in 2017.

Reginald Wade campaign for County Sheriff in Oconee County is his first entry into politics. 

As of July 25, 2024, Reginald Wade did not have a website or any information online.

Reginald Wade

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.