Optimism and respect filled the chamber at the swearing in Friday of Richmond County Sheriff-elect Eugene “Gino” Brantley.
Brantley, who takes office Jan. 1, replaces three-term Sheriff Richard Roundtree after defeating Roundtree in a June Democratic primary runoff.
Respect was a theme raised by several who spoke at the ceremony.
“What sets Sheriff Brantley apart is that he receives respect from all walks of life. His fellow officers admire him and respect him and remarkably, even those who he has arrested give him respect and admire all that he has done for the people here in Richmond county,” said Richmond County State Court Judge Ashanti Lilley Pounds.
Senior Superior Court Judge James Blanchard said with Brantley, a “new chapter” began in the history of the sheriff’s office.
Brantley ran on plans to overhaul the department, from resuming responding to alarm calls to competitive wages and respect for all.
“He has an opinion that all human beings deserve respect and if you give them respect they will give respect back to you,” Blanchard said.
Longtime Richmond County State Court Judge David Watkins said Brantley exemplified loyalty, both to his profession and those he serves. Tough but tender, Brantley has persuaded him to show mercy to some in drug court, Watkins said.
He’s also devoted, determined and disciplined, Watkins added.
“You need those type of qualities in a sheriff and he has them in spades,” Watkins stated. “If he is on a mission to accomplish an objective I can tell you he’ll crawl through broken glass to get there.”
Senior Judge Carl C. Brown said Brantley knows “that prayer changes things, conditions and people.”
Probate Judge Harry James, who administered Brantley his oaths of office, said he’d always found him to be “above board,” honest, intelligent and most importantly, possessing compassion.
After taking the oaths, Brantley introduced some of his new command staff, including Chief Deputy Robert Sams, Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard and Col. Bo Johnson, who ran against him in the primary.
The Estill, S.C., native described growing up in public housing in Winston Salem, N.C., where his uncle was the disciplinarian.
“If we had that same kind of rearing now, our kids would be so much better,” Brantley said.
Brantley, whose wife Niya Brantley is the state court administrator, promised change was coming.
“I’m going to do all I can to stop the violence that’s been seen in our city,” he said. “The gun violence, the shooting, the murders, the fatalities on our highways. We have a lot that needs to change.”
