Meet Richmond County sheriff candidate Bo Johnson
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s a vote for your safety and security in Augusta.
Four people are running for the job, including Bo Johnson.
Every Monday, News 12 will profile a different candidate for Richmond County sheriff. This week, we sat down with Johnson.
Johnson is one of three challengers going up against incumbent Richard Roundtree on the ballot.
MEET THE OTHER CANDIDATES:
- Meet Richmond County sheriff candidate Richard Dixon
- Meet Richmond County sheriff candidate Eugene ‘Gino’ Brantley
Following ten years of service as a deputy in Richmond County, Johnson spent most of his career as a federal air marshal.
Working alongside the FBI t Terrorism Task Force and law enforcement liaison, he eventually retired last year as a senior agent.
“A lot of my opposition has only worked in this area only and that’s great that they’ve spent their time here, I feel like with myself although I have spent some time here I branched out,” said Johnson.
A number of concerns are bringing him out of retirement, but retaining officers is top of his list.
If elected, he’ll start a new department focused on bringing in people who want to make Augusta their permanent home.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:
“Good people don’t tend to leave good jobs when you’ve got good leadership. I believe that’s the case here. I believe that’s the problem why we’re losing so many people here, so many people are going on to other agencies, and you really can’t blame them,” said Johnson.
Externally, he says he wants to look into programs to keep repeat offenders from going back to jail.
He says inmates are taking up lots of taxpayer money as well as non-violent offenders.
But the deputies, themselves, are his focus.
“Back when I was a young deputy, you had a sense of pride and you could feel the respect that came from the citizens of Richmond County back then. I want to see that again. I want to see our deputies feel that pride,” said Johnson.
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