After 36 years of military service, I understand what it takes to keep people safe — and I know that real safety starts with the right standards, the right training, and the right people.

Macon-Bibb County deserves a public safety system that our families can count on. Right now, our Sheriff's Office has roughly half the patrol deputies it needs, and the deputies we do have are stretched thin — working double and triple shifts just to cover their routes. Meanwhile, our starting salaries for certified officers lag behind smaller neighboring counties like Jones and Monroe. That's not a recipe for safety. That's a recipe for burnout and turnover.

And I have serious concerns about lowering the minimum age for deputies to 18 years old. Policing is one of the most complex, high-stakes jobs there is. It requires maturity, judgment, and the ability to de-escalate life-and-death situations in a split second. We shouldn't be asking teenagers to carry that weight. Our community deserves officers with the experience and training to do the job right.

Here's what I'll fight for as your Commissioner:

Competitive Pay That Attracts and Retains Quality Officers. If Jones County and Monroe County can pay their deputies more than we do, we need to fix that. Macon-Bibb allocates nearly half its budget to public safety — we should be using those resources to offer salaries that attract experienced, professional law enforcement, not scrambling to fill seats.

Raise Professional Standards. I will advocate for restoring the minimum age requirement for deputies to 21 and ensuring every officer who patrols our streets has the maturity, training, and judgment the job demands. I also support requiring ongoing professional development, de-escalation training, and community policing practices so that every interaction between law enforcement and residents is based in respect and accountability.

A Jail Facility That Meets Modern Standards. Our county jail is overcrowded — housing over 1,000 people in a facility with a capacity of 966. People have died in that facility. We cannot look away from that. I support the planned jail expansion and medical annex, and I will push to ensure this project stays on track, on budget, and includes the mental health beds and medical infrastructure our incarcerated population needs. Safety and dignity are not mutually exclusive.

Community Policing That Builds Trust. Public safety isn't just about responding to emergencies — it's about building relationships before the crisis happens. I want to see deputies who know our neighborhoods, attend our community meetings, and are invested in the people they serve. That's how you reduce crime for the long term.

I served in Desert Storm and Operation Enduring Freedom. My husband is a disabled veteran. I understand service, sacrifice, and the discipline it takes to do a hard job well. I'll bring that same standard to public safety in District 5.