Gilstrap campaigns for Cobb Co. Sheriff for 5th time

Gregory is a husband, father, and grandfather. His three children graduated from the Cobb County Public School System. He and his family attend Greater Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as a Church Deacon.

Gregory currently serves as a Corporal with the Carver College Police Department. He has served as a Lieutenant at the Morehouse College Police Department and as a Sergeant at the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. He has also worked as the assistant director of protection services at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Gregory B. Gilstrap ran for Sheriff of Cobb County five times, most recently in 2020, but did not win any race.

AJC/ACC Voter Guide - Local & Legislative Questionnaire

Hopes to host town hall meetings where constituents can "ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff [to] build and maintain healthy relationships."

- Hopes to host town hall meetings where constituents can "ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff [to] build and maintain healthy relationships."

Public Safety

Plans to improve inmate safety through annual sensitivity training for employees, suicide prevention and mental trauma training, dividing violent and nonviolent detainees into separate areas, quick responses to inmates' health issues, evaluating incoming inmates for health issues to ensure they receive medical care, and random searches for contrabands and illegal substances.

Wants to improve transparency with the community by allowing media access, addressing family members' concerns regarding detainees, and investigating all allegations by detainees of misconduct of officers.

- Plans to improve inmate safety through annual sensitivity training for employees, suicide prevention and mental trauma training, dividing violent and nonviolent detainees into separate areas, quick responses to inmates' health issues, evaluating incoming inmates for health issues to ensure they receive medical care, and random searches for contrabands and illegal substances.
- Wants to improve transparency with the community by allowing media access, addressing family members' concerns regarding detainees, and investigating all allegations by detainees of misconduct of officers.

Jail Management

Candidate website

Said, "The public cannot continue to construct more jails to house the ever-increasing inmate population. Therefore, prevention must be a major part of the solution to the problem."

The candidate's website says, "Develop youth education programs to deter youth from committing crimes."

Wants to develop youth education programs to encourage youth from committing crimes.

- Said, "The public cannot continue to construct more jails to house the ever-increasing inmate population. Therefore, prevention must be a major part of the solution to the problem."
- Wants to develop youth education programs to encourage youth from committing crimes.

Criminal Justice

Gregory B. Gilstrap

Gregory B. Gilstrap is a husband, father, and grandfather with a family that has resided in Cobb County for 37 years. His three children graduated from the Cobb County Public School System. He and his family are members of Greater Elizabeth Missionary Baptist Church, where he serves as a Church Deacon.

Gregory B. Gilstrap currently serves as a Corporal with the Carver College Police Department. He has served as a Lieutenant at the Morehouse College Police Department and as a Sergeant at the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. He has also worked as an Assistant Director of Protection Services at the Woodruff Arts Center.

Gregory B. Gilstrap ran for Sheriff of Cobb County five times, most recently in 2020, but did not win either time.

The candidate's website says, "Bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community."

Plans to "Bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community."

Said, "Also, having town hall meetings where constituents ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff will build and maintain healthy relationships."

- Wants to improve transparency with the community by allowing media access, addressing family members' concerns regarding detainees, and investigating all allegations by detainees of misconduct of officers.
- Said, "Also, having town hall meetings where constituents ask questions, address concerns, and interact with the sheriff will build and maintain healthy relationships."

Said, "I have 42 years combined professional law enforcement and security management experience... I am confident that I have the skills and insight to implement and manage programs and policies. This will best serve the staff and inmates needs of the correctional facility and demonstrate to the citizens of Cobb County that their tax dollars are utilized in the most honest and efficient manner."

The candidate's website says, "Add Mental Health Awareness for jail detainees and employees."

Wants to "Add Mental Health Awareness for jail detainees and employees."

The candidate's website says, "Make the necessary changes to any unlawful treatment of detainees and employees."

- The candidate's website says, "Make the necessary changes to any unlawful treatment of detainees and employees."
- Plans to improve inmate safety through annual sensitivity training for employees, suicide prevention and mental trauma training, dividing violent and nonviolent detainees into separate areas, quick responses to inmates' health issues, evaluating incoming inmates for health issues to ensure they receive medical care, and random searches for contrabands and illegal substances.

Gregory B. Gilstrap has served as a Lieutenant at the Morehouse College Police Department and as a Sergeant at the Dekalb County Sheriff’s Office. He has also worked as an Assistant Director of Protection Services at the Woodruff Arts Center.

As of May 3, 2024, Gregory B. Gilstrap’s website did not contain information on this issue.

The County Sheriff is an elected official who acts as the chief law enforcement officer in their county. They are tasked with operating the county jails, keeping courtrooms secure during trials, and keeping the public safe through proper law enforcement. Each Sheriff's Office in Georgia may look a little different in how they hire and run their teams, but all County Sheriffs have the same duties. These duties include the following:

- Operating the county jail
- Providing court security
- Serving civil papers
- Executing arrest warrants
- Providing primary law enforcement within unincorporated areas of the county
- Working with city law enforcement officers to keep municipalities safe

The County Sheriff and their office are unique to other law enforcement agencies in that it has to answer to the people it serves. Historically, a turnover in the Sheriff’s office will likely result in noticeable change within the office, so voting for this office is a very effective way to vote approval or disapproval for how county law enforcement is conducted.

The chief law enforcement officer in the county