Candidate profiles:Pritchett looks to address narcotics problem

Published 6:31 am Sunday, July 29, 2012

Wyle Keith Pritchett said he has never run for public office before, but he hopes to make a difference in Murray County’s narcotics problems if his bid as a Republican candidate for Murray County sheriff is successful.

“To me, narcotics is destroying not just our county but our nation,” said the 43-year-old. “When we can get a handle on the drug abuse that takes care of so many other problems.”

He said to do that he’ll build and bolster a K-9 program where drug-sniffing dogs can assist officers he plans to have better trained. He said he also plans to conduct a crime analysis of the county to see when and where most crimes are occurring and target more intense patrols toward prevention in those areas.

He also wants to get the new jail open. The building has been sitting empty except for office staff since 2009 because of funding issues.

“I realize it won’t be something that’s just going to be real easy,” he said. “If it was, our current sheriff and commissioner would have it open already.”

Pritchett faces fellow Republicans Gary Langford and Ken Smith in Tuesday’s primary. The winner will face Democratic incumbent Howard Ensley in November and could face an independent candidate if one qualifies.

Pritchett said he has lived in Murray County since 2000 when he started a poultry farm in Chatsworth. He grew up in Bartow County, graduating from Adairsville High School and often visiting family in Murray. He and his wife, Rhonda, recently celebrated 25 years of marriage. They have two grown children, Justin Pritchett and Jamie Reed. He is a deacon at Welcome Valley Baptist Church.

Pritchett has been a patrol officer for the Eton Police Department since the spring of 2011. He began his law enforcement career at the Murray County Sheriff’s Office in 2003 as a jailer, then worked in court services, as a school resource officer and on patrol. Later, he worked for the police department in Resaca until he said several of the city’s services were discontinued. He then went to work at Eton.

His other work experience includes working for the Georgia Department of Transportation, owning his own landscape business and laboring as an industrial mechanic.

“I did have some people ask me to run,” Pritchett said. “Law enforcement is something that has been kind of a dream of mine and a passion of mine since I was a kid. I had a chance to get in it a few years ago and want to continue to move up and do the best I can … My goal is just to have a sheriff’s department that everybody can have confidence in.”

Pritchett’s email address is wylekeithpritchett@yahoo.com, and his phone number is (706) 695-7091.