Sumter County Sheriff's Office

05/26/2026

Thank you Valenzuela Insulation (Samuel Valenzuela-CEO, Lupe-Manager, Guilberto-Manager, and Nuhay-Secretary) for providing Chick-Fil-A lunch for the staff at the Sheriff's Office today.

05/22/2026

05/18/2026

Congratulations to the South Georgia Technical College Police Academy Class 26-01 on their graduation Friday, May 15, 2026!

After 18 Challenging weeks of training, dedication and hard work, these graduates have officially earned their law enforcement certification. Throughout the academy, they studied Georgia Criminal Law, traffic laws, crime scene processing, standardized field sobriety testing, radar certification, EVOC and fi****ms qualifications in preparation for serving and protecting their communities.

The new officers will now report to their respective agencies where their training though field training programs and gain heads-on experience serving their communities.

We are proud of each graduate for their commitment, discipline and perseverance throughout this journey. Wishing Class 26-01 continued success and safety as they begin their careers in law enforcement.

05/15/2026

On May 15, 2026, members of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Americus Police Department and Georgia Southwestern Campus Police, gathered to honor and pay tribute to the brave officers who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Today, we remember their courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. Their service and dedication will never be forgotten.

Please join us in keeping the families, friends, and fellow officers of our fallen heroes in your thoughts and prayers. 🇺🇸🖤💙

05/14/2026

On 4-21-2026, my staff at the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search in the jail. Many contraband items were confiscated, primarily consisting of cell phones, ci******es, and small handmade weapons used for poking or stabbing.

My Investigative Unit then started an investigation that is still ongoing to this date. The investigation thus far has resulted in the arrest of Javian Quintrell Blake, a Detention Officer employed by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation determined that Javian Blake purchased phones and ci******es and then smuggled them into the jail for profit.

Other arrests are imminent and will be made in due course.

Because contraband items create an unsafe environment and enable prisoners to continue committing crimes while being detained, “GA Code § 42-5-18 - Possessing and/ or procuring items prohibited by inmates.” is a serious felony with a mandatory 10-year sentence.

I also take this crime very seriously. The security of my staff, as well as the inmates, is of the utmost importance to me.

I will release further information as the investigation continues and more arrests are made.

05/11/2026

On May 7, 2026, Sgt. John Harty achieved two significant milestones in both his career and his service to the community. He graduated from South Georgia Technical College’s Cordele Campus with a diploma in Basic Emergency Medical Technician while also celebrating 21 years of dedicated service with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

These accomplishments reflect his unwavering commitment to public safety, professional growth, and serving others with dedication and compassion.

Sgt. Harty’s journey does not stop here. His next goal is to pursue his Advanced Emergency Medical Technician certification, continuing to expand his skills and strengthen his ability to help those in need.

Congratulations to Sgt. Harty on these outstanding achievements and for his continued commitment to serving the community.

05/08/2026

Sheriff Eric D. Bryant, Col. Michael Hernandez, SRO Deputy Kelvin Coley, SRO Deputy Antoinette Jones-Johnson and SRO Cpl. Covery Hill participated in todays DARE graduation at Southland Academy. Congratulations to all of the graduates.

05/08/2026

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
Sheriff Eric D. Bryant would like to thank everyone who participated in this year's National Day of Prayer.