Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway will not seek reelection

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Longtime Gwinnett County Sheriff Butch Conway has announced he will not seek reelection.

Conway was elected sheriff in 1996, but has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years. He's been Gwinnett's sheriff for 24 years.

On Tuesday, Channel 2′s Tony Thomas talked to Conway about his decision to turn in his badge after he serves out his term in 2020.

"It's not a job. It's a life," Conway told Thomas. "I've given a lot to Gwinnett."

Conway recently lost a son-in-law to cancer and said that -- and a desire to pursue other interests -- weighed heavily on him.

“My decision to not seek re-election was not made easily, but I have reached a point in my life where I desire to pursue other opportunities which will afford me more time with my family," he said in a statement.

Under his leadership, the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office became one of the first agencies in Georgia to place the Sex Offender Registry on the internet and was the first Sheriff’s Office in Georgia to become a state-certified law enforcement agency.

Just after making his announcement, the sheriff helped dedicate a plaque to a longtime worker in the jail dog program. Conway said that program will be his legacy.

"I've done a lot of dangerous things over the years, but that is what I'm going to be known for."

The last few years have not been without controversy though. A federal grand jury looked into potential excessive force inside the jail, and critics denounced the use of a program that reports arrested noncitizens to immigration authorities.

Just after Conway made his announcement, critics spoke out. A candidate for Gwinnett comissioner called it a victory for the people in the county. A sheriff's candidate said it opens the door for Gwinnett voters to have a clean slate.

“Any politician, you’ve got criticism,” said Charles Baranowski, a jail volunteer. “But overall, 9/10, he’s super.”

Conway has handpicked a man he hopes will be his successor, Lou Solis. Conway said he hopes voters give Solis the job next November.

Here is Conway’s full statement:

"It has been an honor to serve the citizens of Gwinnett County as their sheriff for 24 years. My office employs the finest staff in the state of Georgia and I’m proud of the many accomplishments we’ve achieved together.

My decision to not seek re-election was not made easily, but I have reached a point in my life where I desire to pursue other opportunities which will afford me more time with my family, who recently suffered a great loss.

I hired Chief Deputy Lou Solis two years ago with the intention of preparing him to succeed me. Chief Deputy Solis has worked exhaustively over the past two years to familiarize himself with our operations. His work ethic is unparalleled and his contributions to our office are great. He has demonstrated outstanding leadership time and time again.

I am certain that Lou Solis will continue to make the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office a standout. We routinely receive visitors from other agencies across the country who seek to implement our programs in their jurisdictions. Programs like Operation Second Chance (Jail Dogs) the Gwinnett Re-entry Intervention Program (GRIP), the 287(g) program and the new veteran’s therapeutic program (The Barracks) are sprouting across the nation because we started them right here in Gwinnett. The benefits to our county are immeasurable and we take great pride in seeing similar programs benefit other communities nationwide.

I thank the many faithful supporters who placed their trust in me election after election over the past two decades. I will always be thankful for the opportunity you provided me to serve as your sheriff and hope the positive contributions we’ve made together will continue to benefit our community for many years to come."

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