RON H. FREEMAN

Sheriff

Elected to office in 2016, Sheriff Freeman has been in Law Enforcement for over 30 years and began his career right here at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in 1987. He is well versed in all operations of the Sheriff’s Office and has served in nearly every division of the agency, including Chief of Detectives, Precinct Commander, and SWAT team leader. Sheriff Freeman holds a Master’s in Public Administration and is a graduate from both the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College and the FBI National Academy (Session 197). He has also completed Georgia’s Sheriff Academy, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar, and Tennessee Law Enforcement Executive Development, as well as several other leadership training courses. In 2018, Sheriff Freeman was appointed to serve on the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) by Governor Nathan Deal.

Sheriff Freeman has been a resident of Forsyth County for nearly forty years. He graduated from Forsyth County High School in 1988. He married his high school sweetheart, Dana, and they have two children, Lexi and Hunter, who both graduated from North Forsyth High School.

SheriffRonFreeman@forsythco.com

GRADY D. SANFORD, JR.

Chief Deputy

Chief Grady Sanford, Jr. serves as the Chief Deputy for the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office and has served in Law Enforcement for over 35 years, including Gordon County Sheriff’s Office, Fairmont Police Department, and Georgia State Patrol. A Georgia native, Chief Sanford was born and raised in Gordon County. Chief Sanford holds an Associate of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from Thomas University, and a Masters of Public Administration degree from Columbus State University. Chief Sanford is also a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College (Class 46), and the FBI National Academy (242nd Session). Chief Sanford is a past President of the Georgia Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) and currently serves as the Section III Representative on the FBINAA Executive Board. He also serves on the Executive Board of FBI Georgia LEEDS and the Criminal Justice Advisory Board for Thomas University. In addition to his law enforcement career, Chief Sanford is an Adjunct Instructor for Reinhardt University, teaching in the Bachelor of Criminal Justice program.

Chief Sanford was born and raised in Gordon County, Georgia. He and his wife, Raina, are proud parents of three adult children and one grandson. Chief Sanford's son, Brent, serves as a Georgia State Trooper with GSP in the Atlanta Metro area.

ChiefDeputyGradySanford@forsythco.com

Major, Jail Bureau

DEEANN CASH

Major Cash graduated from the Clayton County Police Academy and began her career as a Deputy Sheriff in 1986 with the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. Over her 31 years at CCSO she was the first female with the Sheriff’s Office to work her way through all of the ranks from Deputy to Major, working successfully in several different divisions. In 2016 she was promoted to Major and appointed as the Jail Administrator and Jail Operations Division Commander for the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office, where she managed the nearly 2000 bed jail and was responsible for its operations.

In June of 2017, she was recognized and bestowed the Georgia Jail Administrator of the Year award from the Georgia Jail Association. At the end of that same year, Major Cash retired from the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office. In January 2018, Major Cash began her new role as the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office commander of Jail Operations.

Major Cash, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, grew up in Clayton County and now calls Cumming her home. She has two daughters and four grandchildren. Meredith, her oldest, and her husband Chris live in Ball Ground with their twin daughter and son. Her youngest daughter, Katie, lives with her husband David in McDonough, and they have a son and a daughter.

MajorDeeannCash@forsythco.com

Major, Sheriff's Services Bureau

TOM PATTON

Major Patton began his law enforcement career with the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety. While with Alpharetta, he served in Uniform Patrol and then with Community Relations where he worked mainly with the business community. Following that assignment, he assumed responsibility for the department’s budget and finance operations. During his career with ADPS, he has held supervisory responsibilities throughout the department. In September 2016 he retired from Alpharetta Department of Public Safety as Captain.

Prior to his law enforcement career, Major Patton spent twenty years with Wachovia Bank. He began at a corporate lender, working his way through the areas and ranks within the business before retiring as Senior Vice President. Before Wachovia Bank, Major Patton worked for GMAC and General Motors Corporate Financial Staff.

Major Patton holds a BA from Gettysburg College and an MBA from the University of Virginia. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University Center of Public Safety’s School of Police Staff & Command, as well as the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development program.

Major Patton is originally from Birmingham, Alabama but now resides in Forsyth County with his wife Vickie where they attend First Redeemer Church. They have one son, John, who serves in the US Army.

MajorTomPatton@forsythco.com

Major, Law Enforcement Bureau

JOE PERKINS

Major Joe Perkins started his Law Enforcement career in 1994 with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office. Over the next twenty years Major Perkins worked his way through the ranks at CCSO to land at the rank of Chief Deputy in 2014. Major Perkins retired from CCSO in December 2016 before beginning his career at the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office in January 2017.

Major Perkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Mountain State University and an MPA from Columbus State University. He is a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College (Class 33) and the FBI National Academy (247th session). He is also a graduate of Leadership Cherokee (Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce). Major Perkins currently serves as the Area 3 Representative for the Georgia Chapter of FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA). He is also a member of Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and the Georgia Sheriff’s Association.

MajorJoePerkins@forsythco.com