Chief Deputy Darren Vinson is a 37-year employee of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and grew up in Walton

County. He is a graduate of Monroe Area Comprehensive High School and proudly served in the United States

Army National Guard prior to beginning his law enforcement career.

Following his military service, Chief Deputy Vinson joined the Walton County Sheriff’s Office as a jailer and was

quickly promoted to Deputy Sheriff in the Uniform Patrol Division. He steadily advanced through the ranks,

serving as Corporal before moving into specialized assignments within the Sheriff’s Office.

In 1999, Chief Vinson became one of the first employees certified as a departmental Chaplain and was also

honored as Public Servant of the Year. That same dedication to service carried forward as he became the first

School Resource Officer within the Sheriff’s Office and later played a pivotal role in creating and leading what

is now the Youth Services Division. Throughout his career, Chief Vinson advanced through the ranks of

Lieutenant, Captain, and Major while maintaining leadership over the Youth Services Division. From the

ground up, he built and expanded a division dedicated to serving the youth of Walton County. 

Chief Vinson also developed youth-focused initiatives through the Sheriff’s Office, including but not limited to,

Drug Education Programs within the schools, a Mentoring Program for at-risk youth and the Explorers

Program for high school students interested in careers in law enforcement. Additionally, he established key

partnerships to expand the presence of School Resource Officers throughout Walton County, working

collaboratively with the county school district, city school systems, and private schools.

Beyond youth services, Chief Vinson has played an essential role in countywide crime prevention efforts and

community awareness initiatives, as well as the implementation of ordinances designed to enhance public

safety and security. Chief Deputy Vinson serves on numerous local and state boards, and continues his lifelong

commitment to the safety, education, and well-being of the citizens of Walton County in his current role as

Chief Deputy.

Colonel Scott Whisnant is a graduate of Newton County High School. After graduation he joined the

United States Navy where he served for 4 years. After his career in the Navy, he entered law

enforcement beginning his career at the Covington Police Department and then transitioning to the

Newton County Sheriff’s Office. Colonel Whisnant then returned to the military full time, serving in the

Georgia Army National Guard before retiring in 2011. Upon the completion of his military career he

joined the Walton County Sheriff’s Office beginning his service to the county in the Youth Investigations

Division as a School Resource Officer. Colonel Whisnant then promoted from the rank of Corporal

through the appointment to Captain in the Administrative Services Division serving as the lead training

instructor for the agency. He was then appointed to the rank of Major over the Uniform Patrol Division

before ultimately being appointed Colonel of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, serving as the Chief of

Staff.

Major Greg Adcock is a lifelong resident of Walton County, where he has served the community at the

Sheriff’s Office for over 40 years. A graduate of Monroe Area Comprehensive High School, Major Adcock

began his career as a dispatcher at age 18, before moving into the role of Detention Officer in the

Walton County Jail. He then moved onto Deputy Sheriff in Uniform Patrol, eventually achieving the rank

of Sergeant. In 1994 he transitioned to the Civil Division where he promoted through the ranks of

Lieutenant and Captain before ultimately being appointed to Major over the Civil Division. His

responsibilities include managing courtroom and government building security as well as overseeing the

civil process.

Major Chris Kirven, a lifelong resident of Walton County, is a graduate of Monroe Area Comprehensive

High School. After graduation he began his law enforcement career as a Detention Officer in the Walton

County Jail. Upon completion of the Academy, he served as a Deputy Sheriff in the Uniform Patrol

Division. Major Kirven then promoted to Corporal in Uniform Patrol as a part of the Echo Unit, a crime

and burglary suppression unit within the division. After achieving the rank of Sergeant and running the

Echo Unit, he was promoted to Lieutenant of a patrol shift. He served as a shift Lieutenant until being

appointed the Major of the Uniform Patrol Division where he oversees the Patrol and Investigative

Divisions of the Sheriff’s Office.

Major Woods has over 25 years in law enforcement. He began his career in 1994 serving as a deputy in the

Detention Division at the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. He would go onto to serve in many departments,

icluding SWAT and training, beofre retiring from the agency in 2021 as the Assistant Jail Commander. Major

Woods then served as the Chief of Jail Operations at the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office prior to being appointed

as the Major of the Detention Division at the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

Director Wendra Williams is a lifelong resident of Walton County and a graduate of Monroe Area High School.

She has dedicated 37 years of service to Walton County in the field of public safety communications.

Director Williams began her career as a dispatcher with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office under Sheriff

Franklin Thornton. She was later promoted to Dispatch Supervisor, where she demonstrated strong leadership

and operational expertise. She subsequently transitioned to the Walton County 911 Center as a Shift Supervisor,

playing a key role in the development and implementation of the county’s 911 system in collaboration with

county personnel.

After serving two years as the senior Shift Supervisor, Director Williams was promoted to Department Head as

the 911 Director. She continues to serve in this capacity today as the 911 Director and Division Commander

within the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, overseeing operations and ensuring the delivery of critical

emergency communication services to the community.

Captain Pecore is a graduate of Jonesboro Senior High School and began his law enforcement career in 1989

for the City of Madison Police Department. After aslo serving at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office and the

Greene County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Pecore began as a Deputy Sheriff in the Uniform Patrol Division at the

Walton County Sheriff’s Office in 2008. Captain Pecore then served as an Investigator in the Narcotics Unit. He

was appointed to the rank of Captian where he has overseen the Criminal Investigations Division, Detention

Division, as well as his current assignment asa Division Commander of the Administrative Services Division.

Captain Geairn is a graduate of Dacula High School. He began his law enfrocement career in 2003 as a

Detention Officer at the Walton County Jail. Upon completion of the academy he served as a Deputy Sheriff in

the Uniform Patrol Division. He then promoted to the rank of Corporal and Sergeant in the Civil Division prior

to being appointed Captain over Civil and Court Services.

Captain Tallant is a graduate of South Gwinnett High School. Prior to his career in law enforcement he was the

Superintendent of a commercial construction company. In 2009 he began as a Detention Officer in the

Walton County Jail. Upon completing the academy Captain Tallant served in the Civil Division, the Uniform

Patrol Division, and the Narcotics Unit as a Deputy Sheriff. He then promoted to the rank of Investigator in the

Criminal Investigations Division. Captain Tallant was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, Lieutenant, and to his

current appointment as Captain in the Uniform Patrol Division.

Captain Charlie Dalton is a graduate of Social Circle High School and began his law enforcement career in 1994

with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. Later that same year, he transferred to the Walton County Sheriff’s

Office, where he has dedicated his career to public service.

Throughout his tenure with the Walton County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Dalton has served in a variety of roles,

including Detention Officer, Deputy Sheriff, Corporal, Sergeant, and Lieutenant. He spent more than 20 years

as a Lieutenant in the Uniform Patrol Division, demonstrating consistent leadership and commitment to the

agency’s mission.

In addition to his patrol responsibilities, Captain Dalton served on the Sheriff’s Emergency Response Team for

12 years, contributing to specialized operations and critical incident response.

Captain Dalton currently serves as a Captain in the Uniform Patrol Division, where he oversees daily operations

and continues to provide leadership, guidance, and support to personnel in the field.

Captain Hudson is a graduate of Stephens County High School and the University of Georgia. She began her

law enforcement career in 2010 as a Detention Officer in the Walton County Jail. Upon the completion of the

academy, Captain Hudson rose to the rank of Sergeant in the Detention Division. She then served as a Deputy

Sheriff in Uniform Patrol as well as an Investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. She was then

appointed to the rank of Captain in the Detention Division where she currently serves.

Captain Knight is a graduate of Morgan County High School. After a working in residential construction,

he became a Detention Officer in the Walton County Jail in 2010. Upon the completion of the Academy,

Captain Knight went on to work as a Deputy Sheriff in the Uniform Patrol Division. He then promoted to

the rank of Investigator in the Criminal Investigations Division. After functioning as an Investigator,

Captain Knight promoted to Sergeant, returning to the Uniform Patrol Division. Shortly after achieving

this rank he returned as the Sergeant in the Criminal Investigations Division, where he served until being

appointed a Captain in the Detention Division where his career began.

Captain Ben Cornelius is a graduate of Monroe Area Comprehensive High School and Georgia College

and State University. Upon graduating, Captain Cornelius began his career as a Detention Officer in the

Walton County Jail. Upon completion of the Academy, Captain Cornelius worked as a Deputy Sheriff in

the Uniform Patrol Division. He went on to achieve each rank in Patrol, running a shift as a Lieutenant

prior to being appointment a Captain in the Detention Division.

Captain Brandon Thompson is a lifelong resident of Walton County and a graduate of Loganville High

School. Captain Thompson was introduced to law enforcement when he took a college internship with

the Walton County Sheriff’s Office. Upon the completion of the internship he began his career as a

Detention Officer. He then completed the Academy and served as a Deputy Sheriff in the Civil Division

where he served various civil processes and supported the Uniform Patrol Division. Captain Thompson

was then promoted to the rank of Corporal serving as an investigator in the Narcotics Unit. He then

achieved the rank of Sergeant in the Uniform Patrol Division before serving as a Task Force Officer in the

Drug Enforcement Administration. After several successful years as a case agent for the DEA, Captain

Thompson returned to the Uniform Patrol Division serving as a shift Lieutenant and then running the

Echo Unit. He was then appointed to Captain of the Criminal Investigations Division, managing general

investigations, the Narcotics Unit, and the Sex Offender Unit which also includes the Sex Offender

Registry.