Election 2020: Meet the four candidates competing for Muscogee County Sheriff
Three candidates this election year are running against incumbent Muscogee County Sheriff Donna Tompkins, two in the June 9 Democratic Primary, the winner of which will face Republican Mark LaJoye in the November general election.
The Democratic challengers are Pam Brown, formerly a commanding officer for the sheriff, and Greg Countryman, currently the Muscogee County marshal.
Tompkins, 56, has more than 30 years of experience with the sheriff’s office, having started as a civilian before rising through the ranks to become the captain over administration, before she retired to run for sheriff. She manages a $29.5 million budget, a staff of 440 and a county jail population that ranges from 900 to 1,200 inmates.
She has a master’s in public administration and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Columbus State University, and graduated from the Georgia Command College in 2005.
Brown, 61, has 24 years of law enforcement experience, having served with the Georgia Department of Corrections, with the security staff at St. Francis Hospital and with the sheriff’s office. She has four years of college that include criminal justice studies, along with specialized law enforcement training.
Countryman, 54, has 29 years of experience in law enforcement, having worked for the Columbus Housing Authority police and for the Muscogee County Sheriff’s Office before he became marshal Jan. 5, 2005. He has a doctor of philosophy in Christian counseling from St. Thomas Christian University, a master of science theology from Ohio Christian University, a master’s in public administration from Columbus State University, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University, and an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Georgia Military College. He also is a graduate of the Georgia Command College.
LaJoye, 60, joined the Army at age 18, serving 40 years in the infantry, airborne and special operations forces. A combat veteran who served with National Guard special forces, he worked 13 years for the Columbus Police Department. He has a master’s of law from St. Louis University and a bachelor’s and an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Troy University.
Each candidate was asked the same set of questions. Here are their answers:
Why should you be Sheriff?
Tompkins: “I believe that the people of Muscogee County deserve a professional, credible, community oriented sheriff’s office. When I ran for sheriff in 2016, I promised the citizens of Muscogee County that I would restore integrity to the office, restore broken relationships and respond to the needs in this community, as well as balance a budget. I have kept my promises…. By working together with other agencies, we have taken over $5 million worth of illegal narcotics off the street.”
Brown: “Serving as sheriff of Muscogee County, I am confident I can eliminate many issues within the jail. When I started with the sheriff’s office, Gene Hodge was sheriff and Richard Miles was the warden of the jail. Both of these gentlemen were men who actually cared about the community and treated everyone FAIR, including the inmates at the Muscogee County Jail. I learned from both of them that being fair and honest will take you a long way. This has proven to be true throughout my career. I am confident I can be the one who ensures everyone in this community is treated with fairness and honesty.”
Countryman: “For the past nearly 16 years, I have served as a trusted proven leader of a law enforcement agency. I believe everything rises and falls on leadership. Over the course of my tenure in elected office, I’ve made headway in establishing the trust of those I serve to include the public safety community. The foundation of leadership is trust. I have helped to establish the Junior Marshal Program mentoring which has a 100% success rate amongst 1,900 middle school students. Under my leadership as marshal, the marshal’s office was ranked first and second in the nation by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. I will bring the same leadership to the sheriff’s office. Lastly, serving as a four-term marshal and having worked in the sheriff’s office affords me the trust and the experience to transition merging the two offices in 2021.”
LaJoye: “I am a tried-tested and proven leader. I have led soldiers into battle with precision leadership; managed large budgets, charged with the welfare and training of my soldiers; and I performed at the highest level expected of a leader. I attended the best schools the military has to offer; and performed in successful arenas where my integrity and experience were tested and documented as successful missions accomplished. Not one other candidate can answer to my level of leadership and record of experience....Bring a new level of respect for the deputies in all aspects of their duties, pay, and benefits. I know I will bring all responsibilities, assigned to the office, to a model level; and create new programs that can and will propel the department to meet the growing demands put on law enforcement in today’s criminal environment, successfully.”
What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing the office now, and how would you address it?
Tompkins: “We continue to address a jail population of known gang members, those charged with murder, and those that come to jail with serious physical and mental health issues as well as drug and alcohol addictions. I believe that the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to have a significant impact on our state and local economy....With cuts to state mental health budgets, inmates with mental health issues will need treatment in local jails. Providing the core functions of the office such as staffing the jail, providing court security, serving civil process and warrants, transporting mental health patients, monitoring registered sex offenders during this extended pandemic will require us to adapt to a new normal to meet the changing needs of our citizens.
“Law enforcement and corrections facilities face the challenge of recruiting and retaining officers. Due to a manpower shortage, we have been assisting the Columbus Police Department since October of 2019 in answering 911 calls for service. When the citizens of this community call 911 and need a first responder, providing deputies to answer those calls is a continuing pressing need in our community….”
Brown: “Staff safety, inmate safety, and inmate violence are pressing issues with all jails, more so now than ever due to the COVID epidemic. I realize funding is limited when it comes to the budget, and I will address these issues within the established budget perimeters. Gangs have become a major issue within jails throughout our country. I will ensure all inmates are protected against gang violence. When family members reach out to advise their loved one is in danger, I will listen to their voices and execute/reinforce the safety of this inmate as well as all the other inmates within the Muscogee County Jail.”
Countryman: “We are at a pivotal moment in the sheriff’s office where we’ve seen a lower inmate population yet, the largest number of inmate deaths in the Muscogee County Jail. Over the past three and a half years, 10 inmates have died in the county jail under the current administration. This is greatly due to inadequate staffing to cover areas of the jail. The jail is a temporary holding place, not a prison. Muscogee County Prison experienced one inmate death over the course of 20 years. Gang violence and contraband has increased. Having the proper staffing and cameras in 5 North and other blind spots in the jail will help to interrupt some of these issues. I will address this through doing a manpower assessment for staffing and working with the jail warden to address this crisis for a safer environment.”
LaJoye: “There are a few that stand-out, but I believe the men and women who wear the sheriff deputy uniforms deserve to work under a model sheriff’s office. The issues that plague the office with fair promotions and lackluster leadership; demands better management experience without politics involved, along with the highest regard and integrity for promotions status, training, benefits and incentives to stay with the office. Also growing the office to match the demands of a changing law enforcement environment; by providing high quality frequent training opportunities, adding K-9 programs and joining forces with CPD to gain the highest measure of “serve and protect” to our community. We need deputies that are trained and crossed trained in all aspects of law enforcement to meet and defeat today’s criminals, and decrease recidivism. I have an 8-step program that will show measurable success in all aspects of the office and more. My open door policy for my deputies and new programs, along with training will keep them on the cutting edge of law enforcement.”