ANNUAL EVENT
Banks County’s Carlton Speed earns top award
Jones County once again hosted the Georgia Sheriff’s Association annual salute, recognizing the important role of law enforcement in the state and highlighting the sheriff of the year.
State Sen. Burt Jones was asked to give the invocation and pointed out that the event’s keynote speaker, Gov. Brian Kemp, is running for re-election.
“He’s been a strong supporter of law enforcement in his four years,” he said. “I think this is the 10th year for this event, and I want to thank the governor and first lady for being here. I can’t remember a time when they weren’t here.
“I’d also like to thank Sheriff Butch Reece, his wife Linda and the whole Jones County Sheriff’s Office for putting on this event.”
Jones said this would be his last time at the event as a state senator as he is running for lieutenant governor.
“I appreciate all the support I’ve gotten from the good people of Jones County, and I do plan on being back next year,” he said.
Message from the governor
Kemp began by saying he appreciates the representation Jones and Rep. Rick Williams have given the area and also thanked Reece for hosting the event.
“It’s been a special part of my service to the state, being able to travel and visit your jails, your offices, your local communities,” he said. “I want to thank the fellow constitutional officers in the room. I especially want to thank Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black, who has served this state for almost 12 years, who’s moving on to other things.”
First Lady Marty Kemp got a standing ovation when introduced by her husband.
“I want to thank the greatest First Lady in the country who has helped to end human trafficking, Marty Kemp,” he said. “She is your biggest fan, along with all three of our daughters.”
The governor said his purpose was to show appreciation for the job men and women on the front line do every day.
“This has been a rough few years to be in law enforcement,” he said. “It’s been a rough few years to be a family member of folks that are in law enforcement. It’s been a rough few years for people like our family who support you and hurt with you when we lose one of our own.”
Kemp said the state and country have been through a tough time with civil unrest.
“We have people who have seen injustice through their own eyes,” the governor said. “People were rightly upset and wanted to voice their concerns. It was our men and women in law enforcement who helped them do that and kept them safe.
“But at the same time, you had instigators, most of them didn’t live in the state of Georgia, that were busy assaulting our men and women in uniform. Our men and women at the local level, our men and women at the state level and members of the Georgia National Guard.”
Kemp said he made it clear in Georgia that officials here were not going to stand for that.
“Just like we did in downtown Atlanta after the George Floyd incident,” he said. “Just like we did working with everybody down in Brunswick during the whole Ahmaud Arbury investigation and trial. We led by example because of you all. I cannot thank our folks at the state level enough. We had literally every state asset on the ground supporting the city of Atlanta when people were trying to burn the city down.
“I want to thank you all for that.”
The governor said he and his family have been to many of the funerals of fallen officers.
“As long as I’m your governor, we will have your back and we will continue to stand with you in honor for what you do every single day,” he said. “I just want to thank y’all for that.”
Sheriff of the Year
Kemp went on to honor the sheriff of the year, Carlton Speed of Banks County, who was elected in 2012.
“He meets the criteria of what this award stands for,” the governor said. “That includes understanding and fulfilling the mandates of the office, supervising and training deputies, jailers and other members of the staff, actively involved in supporting the positions of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association, displays unique professionalism and leadership qualities and maintains active involvement in the local community. Certainly, this gentleman does that.”
Kemp said Speed has reorganized his office and staff and has been able to improve the salaries and benefits for his deputies and support personnel.
“He is also current chairman of the Appalachian Regional Task Force and chairman of the Georgia Sheriff’s Association Highway Safety Board,” the governor said. “I appreciate his leadership, and he leads by example in regards to his faith, his family and his community.”
Kemp asked the crowd to join in congratulating Speed as the sheriff approached the stage to speak.
Speed began by saying he was humbled to be in front of the group and first thanked God for giving him the opportunity.
“Thank you to my wife of 27 years, Christy Speed, and my family,” he said. “They’ve been supporting me for years.”
Speed had everyone there from Banks County stand up, including Congressman Andrew Clyde, who represents Banks County.
“This is an honor to serve my people and the state of Georgia,” he said. “As sheriff of Banks County, I wear a lot of hats. This job is 24/7, 365. One lady called me in the middle of the night, it had been raining, there was a hurricane, she said, ‘Sheriff, my commode is backed up.’
“I was taken aback for a minute. She said neighbors had moved in and changed the waterflow, and now the septic system was filled up. ‘It won’t flush and it’s coming into my house. I need your help,’ she said. What in the world does a sheriff do with that?
“I picked up the phone, called a local church, and asked about a men’s ministry that goes out and helps take care of elderly people. They jumped right on it, took care of it, moved the ditch. Those are things that we do. Not just me, but every sheriff in this room.”
Speed said that’s community-oriented policing, which is what every sheriff’s office does every day.
“Every man and woman in this room that wears this badge, we’re called to what we do,” he said. “If we didn’t have the calling, we couldn’t stand to do it. We’re in a time in our lives where I’ve never seen law enforcement at the point where we’re at. If we wear this badge, when we walk out of a store, we feel like we have a thousand eyes on us.
“But you should hold your head high because God has put you in that position to help somebody. So when you get out, stand up, walk with courage and authority because He’s there with us every day.”
Speed closed by saying he has his position because of the people who work for him and support him as sheriff and that he wouldn’t be half the man he is without them.
