We are blessed to have an outstanding Sheriff’s Office in Burke County, led for 36 years by Greg Coursey, a tremendous Sheriff who started with about a dozen employees in 1980, and built his office into a professional organization with about 90 personnel. As the population of the County continues to grow, the Sheriff’s Office will face new challenges, new changes, new technology and an increased demand for even greater transparency.
Sheriff Alfonzo Williams is uniquely qualified to continue to build on that legacy and face those challenges. With 29 years of full-time experience in all facets of law enforcement, Alfonzo Williams has developed professional and personal relationships with every player in the criminal justice system and can get the job done.
Raised by a single mother, Sheriff-elect Williams grew up in Burke County, moving from a rural home at the age of 8 into public housing where he lived until he was 18. He started his police career in September 1990 at the Augusta Police Department (APD) and later served as Chief of Police of the Richmond County School System, Department of School Safety and Security. He received three Police Officer of the Year awards from various civic organizations during my tenure with APD and has a total of six Officer of the Year awards.
He has associates, bachelors and a masters degrees and thousands of hours in advanced law enforcement training. Alfonzo is the only candidate who ...
- is a certified police instructor in all areas of high police liability
- is qualified by the Superior Courts as a Use of Force Expert
- has received Officer of the Year 6 times in a 29-year career
- has been Chief of Police (twice)
- has several college degrees including two Masters Degrees
- has worked for the district attorney (assisting in the prosecution of criminal cases)
- has taught Criminal Justice courses on a collegiate level
- is currently serving the residents of Burke County as Sheriff