Joseph Pritchett, a lifelong resident of Morgan County, began his law enforcement career after graduating from the Northeast Georgia Police Academy in 2008.
Pritchett has served Morgan County over the last 16 years as a Deputy, Investigator, and Sergeant, and is currently Lieutenant of Field Operations at the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office. Pritchett, a member of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office Command staff, is the Lieutenant over the Uniformed Patrol Unit and Commander over the Criminal Investigation Unit.
“I have a passion for public service, for helping others, and I believe to lead, you must hold yourself to a high standard," he said.
Pritchett and his wife Kristy have 3 children and reside in the Apalachee Community. They are members of New Hope Baptist Church.
Pritchett graduated from Morgan County High School in 1999 and began his public service career in 2001 as a volunteer Firefighter in the Apalachee community.
Currently, Pritchett is a 22-year veteran of the Morgan County Fire Department and serves as the Chief of Station 1. After graduating from Morgan County High School, Pritchett operated a dairy farm until 2007, when he began his law enforcement career.
Pritchett began his career in Morgan County as a Code Enforcement Officer.
“It was during these first few years that allowed me to mature as a deputy, and to understand that only a commonsense approach to law enforcement is respected. I was able to meet many citizens and business owners, this allowed me to understand what they needed, how they operated, and what they expected from county government," he said. "I believe that the government should help its citizens who are working to make a living instead of hindering them. Citizens have trust and confidence in officers when they are treated with dignity and respect.”
In 2012, Pritchett began working with the Criminal Investigation unit, primarily working narcotics and property theft investigations.
“Our proactive approach allowed us to be successful in our investigations even with limited resources and manpower at the time," he added.
In 2018, Pritchett’s success, determination, and hard work allowed him the opportunity to advance his career when he accepted a full-time position as a Sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Unit.
Pritchett was promoted to Lieutenant over Field Operations in 2022.
“This position has allowed me to work closely with all the Units of the Sheriff’s Office and to gain administrative knowledge of the functions at the Sheriff’s Office," he said. "Being Sheriff is not just about having knowledge and experience, but it is about character and who best has the ethics and integrity to be Sheriff. Over the past 16 years, I have investigated hundreds of cases, from petty theft to murder, which has led to numerous prosecutions.
"I have logged over 1750 hours of training, I have completed the Professional Management Program in Public Safety, from Columbus State University as well as attending the FBI-LEEDA Leadership Institute," he continued. "I have always taken my Career seriously and understand the responsibility of the position that I seek. My service over the last 16 years shows my character and my common-sense approach. If elected Sheriff, I will strive each day to keep Morgan County the best County in Georgia.”