Ruth Stringer To Run in 2020 Special DeKalb Sheriff's Election

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — U.S. Marine veteran and 2017 DeKalb County interim sheriff, Ruth Stringer, has tossed her name into the 2020 Special Sheriff’s election that’s set for March 24. In an exclusive interview with Patch, she shared the first public announcement. Stringer, the county’s first woman interim sheriff, said she couldn’t sit on the sidelines any longer. There’s a big job that needs to be done and her 30 years of experience makes her the perfect candidate for the task.

According to Stringer, the list of problems are so long that she felt compelled to cut her retirement short.

“I’m not interested in making this a 10 or 20 year career,” Stringer said. “I really just want to get in there and fix this. I need to fix it and hand it to the next person clean because right now if somebody doesn't fix it, it’s going to continue being a burden to the taxpayers. It’s like a bill you don’t know you have.”

Currently, Melody Maddox has taken over as interim sheriff after former Sheriff Jeffrey Mann announced an early retirement last month. He appointed her for the seat. Maddox announced that she plans to run in the 2020 race to serve a full term. The other three candidates, who've all served as law enforcement officials, are Ted Golden, Antonio Johnson and Carl Mobley.

Stringer, who calls Maddox a friend, said she has no issue toward her, or any of the other candidates, but she says she has more experience. She worked with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years before retiring this past June. Her credentials, combined with the length of time she’s worked with the sheriff’s office, sets her apart.

After being honorably discharged from the Marines, Stringer worked through the ranks from detention officer to Major. She has worked all divisions such as Service, as the Human Resources Supervisor, Assistant Commander for the Office of Professional Standards, Court Division Commander, Jail Division Assistant Commander, and Training Background and Recruitment Commander. She was named Officer of the Year in 2010 by the DeKalb Bar Association. Stringer was presented the Medal of Valor after saving a child from being sexually assaulted. She was appointed interim sheriff in 2017 by DeKalb Superior Court Chief Judge Courtney Johnson. Her resume is lengthy, she says, adding that she’s put in the work and has taken no hand-outs.

“I’ve been there with that agency from the bottom up,” she said. “I don’t have to do on-the-job training for six or seven months. I can hit the ground running and do the best job for the public.”

If elected, Stringer said that she has her list of priority issues that must be addressed. They include:

• shift differential pay for officers working the evening watch
• better locks to prevent inmates from getting out of their cells
• eliminating the mold issue
• adding mandatory annual defensive tactic’s training for officers to protect themselves
• allowing people to visit the jail 24-hours a day
• adding a merit system
• saving taxpayers money by reviewing current contracts like a recent pharmaceutical one and cutting costs all around
• improving the overall image of the Sheriff’s Office and rebuilding the community’s trust

The contracts are a big concern for Stringer, who says she’s always questioned them.

“There is so much money involved,” she said. “They’re costing the taxpayers a fortune and it’s like nobody is stepping up.”

Inside the jail, officers have gotten attacked because inmates can easily manipulate the faulty locks and get out. That’s one area where the defensive training would come in hand.

“When the officers get attacked nobody says anything when they get hit, it’s just ‘Go get checked out and come back the next day,'” Stringer said.

The mold issue isn’t getting properly handled and it’s been spreading, which is harmful for everyone.

The differential shift pay is also important.

“People don’t realize that working in the jail is a mental strain, it’s stressful, so I would like to see those officers justly compensated,” said Stringer.

She’s also for license plate readers and gun lasers.

The laser point is “for the officer’s safety, and the public,” said Stringer. “I don’t have to shoot you because you’re going to see that [laser] on you and will stop. It also increases the accuracy that the officer shoots.”

Stringer said serving as sheriff is important to her because it’ll allow her to make the necessary changes that she’s been wanting to see for years.

Although, growing up as a little girl, Stringer didn’t aspire to become a sheriff, she said she now feels called to take the leadership position. After being honorably discharged from the Marines, right after completing her tour of duty, Stringer said she was seeking a career that still offered a similar structure, just not as regimented. Her husband Jimmy Stringer had retired before her and she moved with him. That’s when she began her climb up in the Sheriff’s Office. She fell in love with every aspect of the job, and especially enjoyed interacting with the community.

Now she simply hopes to be an inspiration to young girls and women, especially of color, and “clean up.”

“It’s time, my time, and I feel like someone needs to get in there and really roll up their sleeves and get this job done,” Stringer said. “I just want to have the opportunity. I will definitely be a one-term sheriff. I just want to get in there and clean that place up and make sure that the citizens, inmates, and officers are getting what they’re supposed to get. I made this statement when I retired...I’m loyal to the God I serve, the man I married and the oath I took. In that order."