Published: July 05, 2008 10:13 pm            

Sheriff candidate profile: Paul Tipton

Paul Tipton received nearly 11,000 votes when he ran against incumbent Sheriff Scott Chitwood in 2004. Chitwood received more than 15,000 votes.

Tipton is challenging Claude Nix for the Republican nomination for sheriff. Chitwood is unopposed in the Democratic primary. The primaries will be held on July 15.

The jail and sheriff’s office budget is $12 million. The sheriff oversees 197 employees. The base salary if a new sheriff is elected will be $82,130.29. Chitwood, who is in his third term, is paid $100,094.82.

“During the last four years, we have seen escalating gang violence, illegal immigration and other incidents of crime while our sheriff remains in a state of denial as to the very existence of these reoccurring threats to the peace and safety of our community,” Tipton said. “I will work to restore lawfulness for citizens and rebuild that which has been blemished by illegals, gangs and drug dealers that seek to destroy our once serene and beautiful neighborhoods,”

Tipton has said he wants to create a hostile environment for gangs but has not outlined a specific plan.

Tipton said gangs have been growing in the Dalton area since the late 1980s and that incidents like graffiti are signs of gang activity.

“Signs are just an outward expression of a big problem,” Tipton said.

Tipton has said he plans to “keep the public” informed. He said he plans to write a report in the newspaper on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

“It’s very important to me to let the community know what is going on in the community,” he said.

Tipton, a Whitfield County native, graduated from Dalton High School and attended Dalton College and Floyd College. He worked for the Dalton Police Department from 1983 to 1989. He is currently the branch manager for Quality Staffing.

“I served six years (at the Dalton Police Department) with a lot of activity in a lot of areas, not only patrol but as a detective in this community,” Tipton said. “I guess you can say that like anything else in life it is not how long you have been there but it is what you did while you were there.”

Tipton said he established neighborhood watch programs and did several other outreach programs, including establishing a program called “Police Officer’s Toys for Kids.”

Tipton said he plans to continue his community outreach if elected.

“If we ever, in Dalton and Whitfield County, needed communities to be involved and not be afraid to get involved, then today in 2008 we need it,” Tipton said. “Because there is too much going on.”

Tipton has been married to Orlena Manat Frazier Tipton for 19 years. He has two daughters, two stepchildren, four grandchildren and two step grandchildren. He and his wife are members of Rock Bridge Community Church.

        

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