LinkedIn

Craig has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Saint Leo University and a master's degree in public administration from Columbus State University.  

Craig has worked in law enforcement for 30 years. He worked in several Cobb County police departments and positions such as uniform patrol, criminal investigations, special operations, adjutant to the chief of police, SWAT (Special Weapons And Tactics), ranger services, and director of animal services. He also enlisted in the Army for four years following high school and spent time in the Army Reserve as a Command Sergeant Major.

Craig D. Owens Sr. is the County Sheriff in Cobb County since 2020 and currently serving his first term. He is the first African American sheriff of Cobb County.

Craig D. Owens Sr. (Cobb County Sheriff, Georgia, candidate 2024)

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

Said, "When people are housing insecure, we all pay the price."

Values transparency of the Sheriff's Office and has taken steps such as regular public briefings and external reviews of the office.

- Said, "When people are housing insecure, we all pay the price."
- Values transparency of the Sheriff's Office and has taken steps such as regular public briefings and external reviews of the office.

Public Safety

As of June 15, 2025, Craig D. Owens Sr’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

Criminal Justice

Twitter

Instagram

Facebook

Craig D. Owens Sr

Gregory is a husband, father, and grandfather. His three children graduated from the Cobb County Public School System. He and his family attend Greater Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as a Church Deacon.

Gregory currently serves as a Corporal with the Carver College Police Department. He has served as a Lieutenant at the Morehouse College Police Department and as a Sergeant at the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. He has also worked as the assistant director of protection services at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Gilstrap campaigns for Cobb Co. Sheriff for 5th time

Gregory B. Gilstrap ran for Sheriff of Cobb County five times, most recently in 2020, but did not win any race.

Hopes to host town hall meetings where constituents can "ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff [to] build and maintain healthy relationships."

- Hopes to host town hall meetings where constituents can "ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff [to] build and maintain healthy relationships."

Plans to improve inmate safety through annual sensitivity training for employees, suicide prevention and mental trauma training, dividing violent and nonviolent detainees into separate areas, quick responses to inmates' health issues, evaluating incoming inmates for health issues to ensure they receive medical care, and random searches for contrabands and illegal substances.

Wants to improve transparency with the community by allowing media access, addressing family members' concerns regarding detainees, and investigating all allegations by detainees of misconduct of officers.

- Plans to improve inmate safety through annual sensitivity training for employees, suicide prevention and mental trauma training, dividing violent and nonviolent detainees into separate areas, quick responses to inmates' health issues, evaluating incoming inmates for health issues to ensure they receive medical care, and random searches for contrabands and illegal substances.
- Wants to improve transparency with the community by allowing media access, addressing family members' concerns regarding detainees, and investigating all allegations by detainees of misconduct of officers.

Candidate website

Said, "The public cannot continue to construct more jails to house the ever-increasing inmate population. Therefore, prevention must be a major part of the solution to the problem."

The candidate's website says, "Develop youth education programs to deter youth from committing crimes."

Wants to develop youth education programs to encourage youth from committing crimes.

- Said, "The public cannot continue to construct more jails to house the ever-increasing inmate population. Therefore, prevention must be a major part of the solution to the problem."
- Wants to develop youth education programs to encourage youth from committing crimes.

Gregory B. Gilstrap

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.

Cobb County Sheriff, Democratic Primary

Election results

Candidates (2)

Compare candidates

Public Safety

Jail Management

Criminal Justice