Jay Baker Returns To Cherokee Sheriff's Office

CANTON, GA — A familiar face around Cherokee County will return to the agency where he began his career in public safety. Jay Baker will return to the Cherokee Sheriff's Office, and will serve as director of communications and community relations, said Sheriff Frank Reynolds.

Baker will be the media liaison for the sheriff's office as well as the Cherokee Marshal's Office, the agency tasked with ensuring county residents follow ordinances passed by the Board of Commissioners. In 2017, Baker left the sheriff's office as a lieutenant to join the Cherokee County School District Police Department with the same rank. His resignation from the school district was effective Friday, July 27.

“We are fortunate to have Director Baker return to the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office in a role he did exceedingly well for more than a decade,” Sheriff Reynolds said. “During that time, he built strong relationships with members of the media and our community, and I look forward to our communications and community relations office growing under Director Baker’s leadership.”

The role as spokesperson for the sheriff's office was filled by Sgt. Marianne Kelley, who recently worked in the Criminal Investigations Division where she supervised the Crimes Against Children Unit. With Baker returning to CSO, Sgt. Kelley will return to CID to launch the Special Victims Unit, she told Patch.

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Before stepping down in 2017, Baker, a Cherokee County native, had been with the sheriff's office since 1993. He graduated from Cherokee High School in 1987 and attended the University of Georgia where he obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice.

Baker started his service at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center. He moved over to the Uniform Patrol Division, and later worked nine years in narcotics and three in criminal investigations. Before leaving CSO, he served from 2007 to 2017 as the agency's public information officer, crime prevention officer and has helped with recruiting for the sheriff's office.

“It’s great being back with the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office and serving under Sheriff Reynolds,” Baker said. “I look forward to working with the community and assisting the media with their needs.”

Director Baker can be reached at hjbaker@cherokeega.com or at 678-614-6030.

Image via Cherokee Sheriff's Office/Cherokee County School District