Sheriff's Office To Transfer Emergency Management To Marshal's Office

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CANTON, GA -- Effective Oct. 1, 2016, supervision of the Office of Homeland Security-Emergency Management (OHS-EM) will be transferring from the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office to the Cherokee County Marshal’s Office.

The decision, Sheriff Roger Garrison, said was a joint move between his agency and the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners.

The Office of Emergency Management will be assigned to the Marshal's Office, which is currently under the command of Chief Ron Hunton.

Hunton has 37 years of law enforcement experience and has worked for Cherokee County for 21 years.

"Chief Hunton’s knowledge and experience will no doubt provide the stability that office needs so that the citizens of Cherokee County can continue to get the same level of service they have become accustomed to," Garrison said.

Renee Cornelison currently serves as director of the OHS-EM while Robby Westbrook serves as assistant director.

Garrison took over responsibility of OHS-EM in August 2005. However, statutorily the office has always been under the control of the Board of Commissioners.

It is only "logical that that the function of the Office of Emergency Management be under the direct control of the Board of Commissioners," Garrison said

"A new sheriff will be taking office in Cherokee County in 2017 and will face many challenges," he added. "This simply lessens the opportunity for a critical error and allows more time to focus on the mandatory functions of the office of sheriff."

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