Sheriff’s Executive Staff

Chief Deputy Darren Vinson

Chief Deputy Darren Vinson

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

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 was 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.

Lieutenant Colonel Greg Adcock

Lieutenant Colonel 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, Lieutenant Colonel 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 was promoted through the ranks of Lieutenant, Captain and Major. Lieutenant Colonel Adcock now serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff.

Major Chris Kirven

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 was 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 Frank Woods

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 serving in many departments, including SWAT and training, before 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.

Communications Director Wendra Williams

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.

Sheriff’s Executive Assistant

Denese Vance

Chief Financial Officer

Kimberly McCord

Human Resources Direction

Len Davis

Executive Assistant

Jenna Towler

Assistant CFO

Amy Couch

Chief Deputy Darren Vinson

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.
Chief Deputy Darren Vinson