Q&A with Aiken County Sheriff Candidate Ed Wilson | Aiken Area News

Ed Wilson is running for Aiken County Sheriff.

The current sheriff, Michael Hunt, announced in early 2023 that he would not seek re-election.

Wilson's opponents in the June 11 Republican primary are Stuart Prettel and Marty Sawyer.

Wilson is the owner and operator of Georgia-Carolina Enterprises Inc., a surety bond company.

He had a long career in law enforcement.

Wilson worked as a reserve police officer and also as a highway patrol deputy.

While working at the Aiken County Sheriff's Office, he was an undercover narcotics agent.

Wilson is a U.S. Army veteran whose service included a tour in Vietnam with the 1st Air Cavalry Division. He was also a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

Wilson is a recipient of the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Air Medal.

He assisted the U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Wilson retired from the Army in 1988 as Chief Warrant Officer 2.

Why do you want to be sheriff of Aiken County?

We need change and I have a passion for law enforcement.

I would like to change the way the community views law enforcement.

Many citizens are afraid of law enforcement and believe they don't care enough to try to clean up our streets.

I would like to see better interaction between law enforcement and the community showing our community that we are all one community and we must work together to make Aiken a safe and happy place.

We need to do more positive things to bring our citizens together instead of fighting against each other to prove who is right and who is wrong.

What do you believe is Aiken County's biggest law enforcement challenge and what do you plan to do about it?

One of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement is the increasing presence of drugs and gangs in the area, which is growing at an exorbitant rate.

We must work with the community and other law enforcement agencies to combat the rise in gangs, drugs and violence, as well as the number of fatal drug overdoses.

Medicines are a “demand and supply” commodity. If you can curb demand by providing all available resources to those who need help, you decrease supply. I will work with other agencies – local, state and federal – to share information and resources so we can work together.

Another challenge is retaining enough police officers for the community to include rural communities. I would like to hire more officers to ensure all areas of the county are covered, to include additional officers in hot spots for gangs, drugs and violence.

Our officers risk their lives to protect us and our families. I would also like to see pay increases comparable to surrounding counties and ensure they (officers) have access to mental health resources to manage stress and other work-related mental health issues.

Homelessness is another challenge facing Aiken County, as well as those who may suffer from mental or physical disabilities. I will work with other agencies – local, state and federal – to help those in need.

What will your other priorities be as sheriff?

• Combat gang and drug activity to make our community a safer place.

• Mental health care and awareness training for officers. There are many cases where some officers (not all) are not very “sensitive” to certain situations or do not know how to handle situations involving people with mental health issues or other disabilities and victims of violence.

• In the face of increasing violence in our schools and extracurricular activities, work with school resource officers and teachers on active shooter training.

• Work with schools and the community on after-school programs to help keep our children off the streets. Our children are the future of our community and we need programs to help youth stay away from gang activity and drugs.