What is your name?

Keybo Taylor

Tell us more about yourself.

In 2020, I became the first African American to be elected sheriff in the history of the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office. History was made, but this road was never about making history. It's about making a lasting difference. I was born and raised in Gwinnett. Growing up in Gwinnett, I never anticipated I’d pursue a career in law enforcement. However, this path has become my means of reciprocating the support from my community. I am grateful for the opportunity to make a positive impact in this capacity. Being sheriff is a humbling honor. But my most cherished titles will always be: dad, papa, and coach.

What office are you running for?

Sheriff of Gwinnett County

What is your party affiliation?

Democrat

Attach a photo of yourself

Attach your resume or CV.

Where did you go to school?

I am a lifelong Gwinnettian and graduate of Central Gwinnett High School. I also have a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice from Mercer University and a master's degree in public administration from Columbus State University. I have received the intermediate, advanced, supervision, and management certifications through the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST). I am also a Certified General Post Instructor, a graduate of the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College Class X, a graduate of the DEA Drug Unit Command Academy, and a certified Crisis Intervention Trainer.

Provide the link to your campaign website.

www.keyboforsheriff.com

What is your job/occupation?

Sheriff of Gwinnett County

What city/neighborhood do you live in?

Hoschton

Is this your first time running for office?

No

What experiences have best prepared you to hold elected office?

I spent almost three decades working in Gwinnett law enforcement. This includes periods of service in Gwinnett’s Criminal Investigation Division and Special Investigations Section. Additionally, I served as sergeant of the FBI Drug Task Force. By the time of my retirement, I had reached the rank of major and oversaw the East and South Gwinnett police precincts, making me the first African American to ever be promoted to such a rank in the history of the Gwinnett Police Department. I was born and raised in Gwinnett County, and I have lived almost my entire life here. I know our community, and I know how to keep it safe.

What would be your top priority upon winning office?

It is clear from both my experience as sheriff these past four years and my interactions with residents about their priorities that strengthening mental health resources is a top priority. Ensuring access to adequate mental health resources includes providing mental health care within our jail facility and equipping our first responding deputies with the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively de-escalate situations. I established the Mental Health Task Force to de-stigmatize mental health and implement techniques for crisis intervention. We also successfully completed over 700 community calls per year that resulted in zero arrests.

What actions would you take to enhance government transparency and trust in government?

Before I became sheriff in 2021, prioritizing community outreach and positive interactions with law enforcement had not been at the forefront of the previous administration’s mission. I will continue to invest time and resources towards further improving our community outreach and engagement. As sheriff, I created the Community Outreach Team to advance economic opportunity, form local partnerships, and establish a framework for growth and development. We also enhanced our engagement through initiatives to distribute over 12,500 backpacks and 297,723 pounds of food directly to the community.

Do you believe Georgia elections are secure and what additional security measures can be taken?

One of the duties of the sheriff in Gwinnett County is to secure polling sites and serve as local law enforcement for elections. While I do not play any role in the rules and regulations by which elections are run nor the decisions around precinct locations and administration, I believe it’s important for the public to know that I take the security of polling locations seriously, and I believe our security measures meet the needs of today.

What is government's responsibility to ensure affordable housing?

Georgia primarily deals with issues around affordable housing at the local county and municipal level, but I have as sheriff been a strong advocate to our local governments of the importance of affordable housing. Our community is best served when our law enforcement staff and deputies can afford to live in the same communities that they work and strive to keep safe, and I will always be a passionate advocate for housing policy that provides that security for the community and stability for our public servants and their families.

Do you believe public access to public records is sufficient in your jurisdiction and, if not, what steps do you support to remedy that?

Our communications team in the Gwinnett County Sheriff office works diligently to be open and accessible to our community and local press as they work to better understand the important decisions we make. I do believe our current public access is both sufficient and important.