Story By Mary Bailey
On Sunday, Marshall County Sheriff Phil Sims released the following statement about his future within the county.
“Today, I am announcing my reelection bid for Sheriff of Marshall County. It is an honor to serve as your Sheriff for the last eight years, and I humbly ask for your vote and support to continue to serve as your Sheriff for the next four years. From day one, I pledged to bring the sheriff’s office back into the community. As Sheriff, I have supported our community watch programs, been involved in numerous community events, and have increased a visible presence in our communities.
Since taking office, we have worked to ensure that there are dedicated School Resource Officers (SROs) in our schools. Our SRO program is well recognized statewide, and I appreciate the outstanding work they all do. We have provided routine training for all deputies and correction officers so that they stay up to date on ever-changing laws and policies.
We have also ensured that our deputies and correction officers have access to up-to-date equipment. By working closely with the county commission, we have been able to increase pay across the board.
The county struggled for years with an overcrowded, rundown jail before I was elected. After taking office, my team and I implemented a plan to resolve this problem once and for all. Working with the commission, we secured approval for a jail expansion of 250 beds, which will resolve this issue for many years to come.
During my tenure as Sheriff, we have increased the number of deputies on patrol and correction officers. We have also added two K-9 deputies, an investigator, a training coordinator, and courthouse security deputies. As a result, our retention of personnel has improved.
Additionally, we have assigned deputies to the drug task force and several federal task forces. Above all, we have built a great relationship with all the city police departments and the district attorney’s office. By working together, we can continue to make Marshall County a safer place to live and work.
However, there is still much to be done. We are currently constructing our sheriff’s training center and firearm range. Thank you to all who have donated funds and materials to help make this happen. Over the past several years, we have hosted many civilian basic firearms training courses and will continue to do so.
We are also developing a dedicated crime scene unit, launching a drone program, and upgrading our policies and procedures to align with current laws and regulations.
We will continue to fight crime and proactively investigate criminal activity, including the trafficking and distribution of drugs, sexual child predators, tracking of registered sex offenders, property crimes, and violent crime.
My team and I have accomplished many things, and we will continue to serve the county with honor and integrity. I maintain an open-door policy; if you come by to see me, I will make sure to make the time for you. I humbly ask for your vote and support to continue serving as your Sheriff for the next four years and keep our county safe. Together, we can continue building a safer, stronger Marshall County for everyone.”
