Burke County Sheriff Alfonzo Williams has made several high-profile hires within his department, most notably appointing Richard Elim as the new chief of staff.
Elim, a former lieutenant with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO), was hired at an annual salary of $91,000. His appointment follows a controversial past, as he was arrested in 2018 on felony charges, including violation of oath by a public officer and theft by deception.
Elim, who was accused of falsifying inspection reports for lottery machines, pleaded guilty to reduced charges in 2021 and received a two-year probation sentence. Sheriff Williams, who has known Elim for over 35 years, expressed strong support for his new Chief of Staff, emphasizing that Elim has paid his dues and deserves a second chance.
“Richard is a good person, an honest person, a trustworthy person, and a family man,” said Williams. “He stepped up, took full responsibility for his actions, served his time, and was later exonerated. He’s the person I’ve known throughout my career, and I believe in second chances.”
Williams, citing the Bible, explained that the mature response to mistakes is empathy and forgiveness.
Despite the controversy surrounding Elim’s past, Sheriff Williams defended his decision, noting that Elim’s position as chief of staff does not require peace officer certification, as he will not be involved in law enforcement duties. Instead, Elim’s role will focus on helping to execute the sheriff’s strategic plan, advising, and fostering connections within the agency and the community.
Sheriff Williams also addressed concerns regarding the high salaries of his recent hires. Monique Williams, a former WRDW-TV news anchor, was appointed public information officer with an annual salary of $86,000. The sheriff justified these salaries by pointing out the highly specialized skills these individuals bring to the table, particularly in a competitive job market.
“These are not temporary hires. We’re bringing in highly qualified, highly trained people,” Williams explained. “You can’t hire talent like this for $60,000 or $70,000. It’s about recruiting and retaining the best people we can afford.”
In addition to Monique Williams, Terrance Lakes was hired as an information technology director at a salary of $85,000. Lakes, who has experience working with federal agencies, will take on a critical role in streamlining the department’s IT functions.
The sheriff acknowledged that the department has faced some personnel losses, including several resignations. However, he expressed optimism about filling those vacancies, highlighting that he has already hired five new individuals in the past two weeks.
“We’ve always been transparent about the fact that we’ll lose some people, but we’re also gaining new talent,” Williams said. “This is part of the process when there’s a change in leadership. We’re not going to be stuck with just warm bodies in seats—we’re preparing these employees for leadership.”
Sheriff Williams also responded to rumors about a potential mass resignation within the department, clarifying that nine have chosen to leave to join Richmond County Sheriff-Elect Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley on Jan. 1. He said the department is actively working to recruit new personnel. He emphasized that the department’s success is not dependent on the past but on how the team moves forward.
“I’m not here to dwell on the past; I’m here to prepare my staff for success,” Williams asserted. “Burke County is going to be fine. We’re doing what we need to do to ensure that we have the right people in place, and we’ll continue to work hard to build a strong team.”
On a broader note, Williams expressed optimism about future collaboration with neighboring law enforcement agencies, particularly Richmond County. While his relationship with Richmond County Sheriff Richard Roundtree has had its ups and downs, Williams extended his best wishes to Roundtree in his future endeavors and welcomed the opportunity for joint efforts with the incoming sheriff in combating crime.
“We’ve tried to make amends, and I wish Sheriff Roundtree well. We’re going to continue to work openly with Richmond County and share information to tackle crime together,” Williams said.
