Cherokee Names New Chief County Marshal

Cherokee County now has a new chief county marshal.

Cherokee Sheriff’s Office L.t Colonel Ron Hunton has been tapped to serve in the position, Cherokee County Manager Jerry Cooper said on Saturday.

Lt. Colonel Hunton will officially take over the agency — which oversees Cherokee County E-911, Animal Control and the Marshal’s Office — on Aug. 18. He was appointed by Cooper after former Chief Mashal Chris Collett retired in late May.

With more than 30 years in law enforcement experience, Lt. Colonel Hunton is currently in command of all field operations at the sheriff’s office, including Uniform Patrol, Criminal Investigation and Special Operations (SWAT, Traffic Unit, Command Vehicles and K9).

“Lt. Colonel Hunton is a respected leader that brings decades of law enforcement experience,” Cooper stated. “We welcome his years of distinguished service, his commitment to public safety, and his strong leadership skills to the County Marshal agency.”

Cooper added he believes the agency “will remain one of the best in the Atlanta region, state and in the nation” under Lt. Colonel Hunton’s leadership.

A highly decorated public servant, Lt. Colonel Hunton has also received the FBI Director’s Commendation, American Legion Award Above and Beyond the Call of Duty, Sheriff’s Citation for Meritorious Service, Optimist Club Law Enforcement Award, Kiwanis International Outstanding Service Award, Outstanding Young Man of America and Outstanding Policeman Award from Northeast Cobb Jaycees.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to serve and to lead this Agency to new heights” said Lt. Colonel Hunton. “As a team, we will continue the commitment of providing the best service to the citizens of Cherokee County. The E-911 Emergency Communications Center is Nationally Accredited, and Animal Shelter has one of the best reputations in the region and the Code Enforcement and Animal Control Division is state certified. My goal is simply to continue this tradition and build on a great organization that serves the citizens of Cherokee County.”

Lt. Colonel Hunton graduated from Columbus State University with a master of Public Administration and from Reinhardt University with a bachelor’s degree. His is a graduate of the FBI Academy Class 222 and a graduate of the Force Science Institute at the University of Minnesota.

Hunton, 55, lives with his family in Bartow County.