Decatur County Sheriff Wiley Griffin was sworn in as the 2014-15 President of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. during the annual Summer Training Conference Thursday in Hall County.

Lt. Governor Casey Cagle swore Griffin into the position.

“I’m very honored to be elected president of the Georgia Sheriff’s association,” Griffin said, “but I could not do it without my family, nor the employees of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office.”

The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. is comprised of 159 elected sheriffs with the support of over 70,000 honorary members throughout the state who recognize and appreciate the service of the constitutional Office of Sheriff and the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, Inc.

Griffin said as president, he would be working with the legislature to introduce bills throughout the state.

“I will help the legislature understand the law enforcement side of a bill and to actually make Georgia a safer and better place to live by introducing better legislature,” Griffin said.

Griffin began his tenure as sheriff of the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office in July 1999.

He has been an active member of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, serving on the Association’s Board of Directors, the Training & Standards, Legislative and the Audit & Budget committees.

He is also a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association.

“For 15 years Sheriff Griffin has served and protected the citizens of our state.  He is a man of character and competence, and a proven leader,” Terry Norris, Executive Director of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association said.  “As President of the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association, Sheriff Griffin is positioned to offer his considerable skill and experience to all sheriffs and the citizens of our great State.”

Griffin said he was looking forward to working with the other 158 sheriffs in Georgia.

“We have a great participation in the GSA by all sheriffs,” Griffin said. “Anytime we can collaborate with our colleagues, it can make a difference.”