Incoming Sheriff Eugene “Gino Rock” Brantley will bring about 100 officers with him to the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office when he officially takes over at midnight Wednesday.
In a phone interview on Monday, Brantley, sounding a bit under the weather from a holiday flu, expressed confidence that everything is ready for the transition. Sheriff Richard Roundtree will officially hand over leadership on Tuesday night as the new year begins.
“The transition has been going well,” Brantley said. “Sheriff Roundtree gave us the chance to meet with someone in finance and on the command staff to ensure we got aligned and got everything we needed.”
Over the next month, Brantley plans to bring on approximately 100 employees, with 70% of them being certified officers. The remaining positions will be filled by non-sworn officers for roles in the jail and other areas.
MORE: Brantley takes oath of office to serve as new Richmond County sheriff
Brantley has been able to attract officers from across the region, including 21 from the Marshal’s office where he previously worked, as well as officers from Burke County, other parts of Georgia and South Carolina.
“Most of them have reached out to us,” he said. “I built relationships with people who want to further their careers.”
While some deputies will leave for open opportunities at the Marshal’s office or elsewhere, Brantley expects turnover to be minimal.
“With a new administration, there’s always some turnover,” Brantley acknowledged. “But the plan is to keep as many good officers as we can. I don’t foresee a lot of people leaving.”
He confirmed that a few supervisors have been informed their services will no longer be needed. But some will stay on, including Sheriff Roundtree’s Chief Deputy Calvin Chew who will remain to lead the Criminal Investigative Division.
“With any administration, you are going to have some form of turnover. It’s like the president coming over, taking over the Biden administration. You have to put people in places that you are familiar with,” he said. “And having them in place to push whatever you are trying to enforce, to push your goals and your plans. I think sometimes, you have to start with a clean slate and some new ideas.”
Brantley introduced members of his new command staff during his swearing-in ceremony on Dec. 20, including Chief Deputy Robert Sams, Chief of Staff Lewis Blanchard, and Colonel Bo Johnson, who ran against Brantley in the Democratic primary.
When Brantley steps into his new office at 400 Walton Way on Wednesday, it may feel unfamiliar. He hasn’t worked in the building for eight years, since he left the Sheriff’s Office for the Marshal’s Office. In fact, he estimates he’s only been in the building a handful of times in that span, mostly for visits to the records office on the first floor.
Asked if he’s ready for the role, Brantley turned to scripture. “Proverbs 15:22 says, ‘Without counsel, purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counselors, they are established,’” he said. “So I’ve surrounded myself with great people – people smarter than me, with more experience. It’s all about collaboration and making sure the plan works.”
Brantley has previously outlined some of his priorities for the first 100 days in office. He plans to conduct a full audit of the Sheriff’s Office, meet with community leaders and employees, and set goals to improve morale. One of his main focuses will be addressing gun violence, particularly among youth. He aims to establish a task force, partner with local organizations, and launch youth mentorship programs to tackle the issue.
Brantley also plans to improve the department’s response to alarm calls, ensuring efficiency without neglecting other responsibilities. He will work with local businesses and residents to address recurring false alarms.
However, Brantley noted that residents and businesses should be patient when it comes to his pledge to begin answering alarm calls.
“I think it would be foolish to say that on day one, we’ll be answering alarm calls,” he said Monday. “It will take some planning and could take as long as six months to implement. It will take time to implement a plan that works for us and the community.”
