Get to know Aiken County sheriff candidate Ed Wilson (2024)

Ed Wilson is a candidate for Aiken County sheriff.

The current sheriff, Michael Hunt, announced early in 2023 that he wouldn’t be seeking reelection.

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 bail bond company.

He has had an extensive career in law enforcement.

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

While with 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 also was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division.

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

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

Wilson retired from the Army in 1988 as a chief warrant officer 2.

Why do you want to be the sheriff of Aiken County?

We need changes, and I have a passion for law enforcement.

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

There are a lot of citizens who are afraid of law enforcement and think that law enforcement doesn’t care enough to try and help clean up our streets.

I would like to see better interaction between law enforcement and the community by showing our community that we are all one community and that 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 each other to prove who’s right or who’s wrong.

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

One of the biggest challenges for law enforcement officers is the increase of drugs and gang presence in the area, which is growing at an exorbitant rate.

We need to work with the community along with other law enforcement agencies to help battle the rise in gangs, drugs and violence, and the amount of fatal drug overdoses.

Drugs are a “Demand & Supply” commodity. If you can curb the demand by providing every resource available to those who want the help, you decrease the supply. I will work with other agencies — local, state and federal — to share information and resources so we can work together as one.

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

Our officers put their lives on the line to protect us and our families. I would also like to see pay raises which are comparable to surrounding counties and ensure they (officers) have access to mental health resources to manage stress and other job-related mental health issues.

Homelessness is another challenge facing Aiken County along with those who may have mental or physical disabilities. I will work with other agencies — local, state and federal — to assist those in need.

What will be your other priorities as sheriff?

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

• Mental health care and sensitivity training for officers. There are a lot of instances where some officers (not all) are not very “sensitive” to certain situations or don’t know how to handle situations that involve people who have mental health issues or other disabilities and abused victims.

• With the growing violence in our schools and after-school functions, work with school resource officers and teachers on active-shooter training.

• Work with the schools and the community on after-school programs to help keep our children off the streets. Our kids are the future of our community, and we need programs to help lead the young people away from gang activities and drugs.