Candidate Receives Endorsement From Fraternal Order Of Police

CANTON, GA — Cherokee County Chief Assistant Solicitor-General Todd Hayes has received the endorsement from the Kermit C. Sanders Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #13 in his bid to become the county's next solicitor general, the candidate said in a press release.

With a membership in excess of 600 active and retired law enforcement officers, the Sanders Lodge is the largest Fraternal Order of Police lodge in Georgia, and serves police in the North Metro Atlanta area —including Cherokee County. Members of the Lodge voted to endorse Hayes following their Feb. 7 meeting at which he and his opponent presented different views of the role of the solicitor general in promoting public safety in the county.

"I am deeply humbled by the endorsement of the Fraternal Order of Police,” said Hayes. “Solicitors general can only be successful when they work hand-in-hand with the law enforcement agencies in their community, and I have done all I can to build positive relationships with all of the deputies, officers and troopers that serve in Cherokee. The fact that they have placed their confidence in me by deciding to stand behind me in this race is incredibly moving.”

Hayes, a career prosecutor with 15 years of experience, has a long history of training and supporting the efforts of law enforcement officers in Cherokee County and across Georgia. He frequently instructs new officers training to receive their peace officer certification at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (and its regional divisions) on how to effectively testify in court.

During his five-year tenure at the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia, he instructed thousands of police officers in every corner of the state on cutting-edge approaches to impaired driving enforcement and traffic safety techniques. Hayes states that building and maintaining a close partnership with police is a primary goal he will vigorously pursue as Cherokee’s next solicitor-general.

Sanders Lodge President and State Lodge Secretary Steven T. Gaynor, a retired Cobb police sergeant, described Hayes’ presentation to the lodge on Feb. 7 as “outstanding.” In a Facebook post announcing the endorsement to the group, Gaynor encouraged Lodge members living in Cherokee County to consider voting for Hayes based on his experience and the support of retiring Cherokee Solicitor-General Jessica Moss. Moss announced last year that she will not seek re-election and she will support Hayes in his bid to replace her.

Photo: Todd Hayes. Credit: Landmark Communications