The Sheriff Speaks: A Shining Star in the Department - Sgt. Rick Windham
Thursday, February 4th, 2016
What every employer wants is an employee who will claim ownership of a process and work with passion and enthusiasm to ensure that the process flows as smoothly and efficiently as possible. I am fortunate to have many such employees. One of which, whom I would like to highlight this month, is Sgt. Rick Windham.
Sgt. Windham oversees the court functions at the Dougherty County Jail. The jail maintains two courtrooms and carries out court functions seven days per week. Sgt. Windham manages the scheduling of those court functions, which is not an easy task considering the time is divided between Magistrate Court, State Court, and Superior Court; with multiple judges at each level.
In addition to scheduling, Sgt. Windham manages the security of the court rooms. He coordinates the Bailiffs and personally ensures that each and every security concern is dealt with appropriately. Through his efforts and incredible dependability, he has come to earn the respect of each of the judges.
Sgt. Windham is deeply passionate about his job and constantly looks for ways to positively impact the Sheriff’s Office. He works with the Public Defender’s Office to ensure new inmates are adequately represented. He works with the District Attorney’s Office to ensure that cases do not languish. He works with the judges to ensure that cases are brought to their attention that may have otherwise slipped through the cracks. In short, he acts as a case manager on behalf of the jail to ensure that criminal cases are prosecuted efficiently and that offenders do not languish within the system. His efforts have saved the county countless dollars by getting cases moving that otherwise would have allowed offenders to sit in jail.
When an inmate’s family calls me with concerns about the criminal case, Rick is my “go-to” person. He is always able to ascertain the status of the case and present options to move things forward.
Additionally, Rick puts forth special effort with inmates who have special needs. Many times he has gone above and beyond to ensure that such inmates were assisted appropriately, seeking help from other community resources. These efforts go well beyond his job description but are a part of his nature.
Rick is also an outstanding representative. He strives to ensure that he always looks good in his uniform. In fact, he serves on the agency’s honor guard for ceremonies and formal functions. He also represents the agency well in the community. Those who know him can attest to his integrity and personal ethics.
Sgt. Rick Windham is a shining star in the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office. I am truly blessed to have many shining stars. These are the people who make serving as your Sheriff not only an honor, but a pleasure. If we can be of any service to you, please contact us at 229-431-3259.
