Rick Cook Will Run for Sheriff

Rick Cook of Shady Dale has announced his candidacy for the office of Sheriff of Jasper County, to succeed Sheriff Charles Roper.

Deputy Cook would like to thank Sheriff Roper for the knowledge and experience obtained through his years of leadership.

Deputy Cook, 46, was born in Atlanta but grew up as a child in Shady Dale, the son of Marlon and Nell Cook. He left Jasper County for a few years but moved back with his wife, Karen Cook, to Shady Dale, his hometown, more than 11 years ago. Prior to Mr. Cook returning to Jasper County, Mr. Cook worked as the logistics and warehouse manager at Danlar Lighting located in Conyers.

Deputy Cook, a veteran of the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, graduated from Middle Georgia Police Academy in 1987. During his time with the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Cook says his goal has always been to be involved with the citizens of Jasper County and their needs and has continually worked firsthand with the residents.

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Through his experience on the road and working to protect and serve the county, Deputy Cook has gained valuable knowledge and spoken to citizens about their needs and expectations for the Jasper County’s Sheriff’s Office which has prepared him to serve as sheriff.

If elected sheriff, Deputy Cook said he would like to continue to patrol as much as possible to talk firsthand with residents about their needs. He would also like to hold a town hall meeting at least quarterly in a different community to try to deter crime through community participation.

“Community involvement is the backbone of teamwork,” Mr. Cook said.

Deputy Cook said he believes that we have to hold inmates more accountable and more responsible. Deputy Cook would like to create an outside inmate work program. This program would be utilized for trash pickup on roads throughout the county. In addition, Deputy Cook said he would like to work closely with the Recreation Department, Jasper County Government agencies, Jasper County Board of Education, Animal Control Shelter and other civic agencies to use the program on various landscaping and cleanup projects for public buildings, recreation fields, construction projects and community festivals and in return saving taxpayer’s dollars.

Deputy Cook recognizes the importance of conviction, dedication, professionalism, integrity, and the strength of genuine effort.

He earnestly desires to serve the citizens of Jasper County as Sheriff; to be held accountable for promises made and promises to be kept in the years to come. He wants to be responsible for the continued forward progress of our agency, he said. He wants to build on the successes of those who have served before him. He wants voters and taxpayers to recognize that he devotes his genuine best efforts, every day, towards making Jasper County a safe place to live.

Finally, Deputy Cook hopes that the citizens of Jasper County want someone with battle-tested leadership capabilities. He hopes the people who live and work in Jasper County want a Sheriff’s Office and a Sheriff who is sincere when he says he wants to reduce crime, and be more accountable to their needs and concerns.

He hopes that the voters of Jasper County see him as an investment in the Sheriff’s Office’s future, one that will continue to grow and prosper through cooperation, commitment, dedication, information sharing and compassion.

He humbly asks for your vote and support in his campaign for Sheriff of Jasper County. “With your help we can keep Jasper County a safe place to live,” said Deputy Cook.

If you would like to talk to the deputy about his candidacy, contact him at RichardCookforSheriff@gmail.com or call 404

227-0407.