Speech

I want to speak to you this evening about the sheriff’s badge.  This badge does not belong to a single person. It’s the people’s badge.  Given by the people to someone they trust.  The person who receives this badge from the people should be someone who is Accomplished…Accountable and Approachable  When I think about accomplished I think about my great grandfather W.F. Bryant who helped pioneer the early Church of God which has grown into one of the world’s largest messengers for Christ, I think about my Dad Emary F. Bryant who pioneered the early days of the Bradley County Rescue Squad I have a family history of service and pioneering.  I along with others, pioneered the first drug enforcement unit in Bradley County.  I was in the first ever drug enforcement unit in Bradley County.  After a short period of time my first partner quit and went back to patrol and Tony Benefield joined me and together we work long and hard to establish a front against drugs in Bradley County. We worked hard to establish a solid unit that still is in place today and is still successful against those who would enslave our citizens to drugs. I along with others helped to pioneer community policing in Bradley County. I was this county’s first designated PIO.  Was the first Drug Task Force Director.  I am not finished pioneering. I have the training and experience needed to humbly receive this badge.  I spent 25 years in service to this county at the sheriff’s office.  During that time I served in many position.  I am the only candidate standing here today who has been Captain of both the Patrol and Detective Divisions.  I am the only candidate standing here today who has been an administrator at the Drug Task Force as well as the sheriff’s office.  I am the only one who has been both director of Training as well as Director of the Budget.  So, then as we gather here today I am the candidate that is most prepared and most accomplished to be your sheriff on day one. 

Not only should your candidate be Accomplished, but he should be Accountable. The person who is entrusted by the people to wear this badge must be Accountable they must be accountable to God and to their family and to the people. I would like to recognize my wife of 36 years Darlene Bryant who is sitting right over here. Together we have reared two children and now have three beautiful grand children.   I will be accountable to the people by enacting a code of ethics on day one. Not just for myself but for each member of the sheriff’s office staff and volunteers. A code of ethics that will continue to guide us throughout my term as your sheriff.  I will be accountable to the people by holding regular open meetings.  I will often invite the media and concerned citizens to observe how the business of the sheriff’s office is conducted and how decisions are made under my administration. Further, I will be accountable to the people by providing a regular sheriff’s report to the public. These reports will include such things as all credit card expenditures and other budget items. The report will include updated crime statistics.  It will include any personnel hiring or terminations.  I will give this report personally to the people through various media outlets and our website.

Not only must your sheriff be accomplished and accountable but your sheriff should also be Approachable…. This is the People’s badge…. No one should live in fear of this badge unless they are a criminal. Even then it is not the badge that they should fear but the people behind the badge and our system of justice.

You should always be able to approach the people’s badge.  It is your badge.  When I am your sheriff I will keep my cell phone I now have at my own expense.  I have spent advertising dollars to publish this number. I welcome your calls now and I will continue to welcome your calls once I am your sheriff. I will not hide behind your badge and avoid your questions or comments and concerns.  You need a sheriff who is approachable by you and available to you. I will continue to be approachable and available to the people. Those of you who know me, know that I have always been this way. Running for sheriff did not change me and being your sheriff will not change me.

The badge is also known as the shield comes from the Spartans of ancient Greece. They always had their shield on the left arm, you will always find badges on the left part of the chest. It represents protection and the willingness to always face the enemy. Not the enemies of a man, but the enemies of the people… those who would bring harm upon our families, our schools, our seniors, our freedoms!  The badge is bigger than any one man or even an entire sheriff’s office. The badge must be worn by someone who understands that it belongs to the people. It is not his to get his way, - it is not his for selfish gain, - and it is not his to do with as he pleases. It is not even his.  It is the people’s badge to conduct the business of the people by the people.  A badge worn by one man, but backed by many.  A badge worn by just a man. Just a normal man, but as it says in a poem I recently read, “Underneath those badges their hearts beat as one. This badge represents Valor, it represents honor, and it represents dignity.”

Valor, honor and dignity are a requirement to wear the people’s badge. The badge is a symbol of trust. Trust given to an ordinary man. A trust that transforms an ordinary man’s actions into one of extraordinary strength. The strength to protect the people who gave him their trust. A trust that cannot and must not be broken.  For if it is broken, the man has not only failed, but the people have failed, the mission has failed. Ladies and Gentlemen when you elect me as your sheriff you will succeed, this badge will succeed and the people’s mission will be accomplished.