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Donald Ferguson for Sheriff

Candidate Biography

Donald Ferguson born in Savannah, Georgia in 1958, started his career in criminal justice when he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology and in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia and began working as a full time Deputy Sheriff, in the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Jail Bureau, ensuring that detained inmates were safely guarded and received a good quality of life upon release. In 1987, Donald was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while assigned to the Jail Bureau. In 1991 received his General and Advance Instructor Certification Training becoming a statewide trainer for the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council.

Donald was later transfer to the Training Division at the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center as an Instructor, the Academy’s Supervision and Management Program Coordinator, and Office Manager. During his tenure as Sergeant, Donald was responsible for coordinating and training more than 1,000 officers in the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office on matters of Supervision, Management, Administrative Management, Instructional Training Liability, Health & Wellness, and CPR. Donald researched, developed, and implemented curriculums based on federal, state, and local laws. Coordinated and scheduled training for agency personnel throughout the state, ensuring that policies, procedures, and regulations are properly implemented. Donald, as the Sheriff’s Training Division office manager maintaining the daily operations of the training unit’s budget, inventory and specialized training programs.

In 1993, Donald became a Certified American Red Cross and Privacy and Security (CHRIS) Training Instructor. In 1995, Donald became a Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council Certified Senior Instructor. In 1997, Donald became a Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council Certified Master Instructor. In 2002, Donald received accreditation and auditor training with the American Correctional Association and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agency’s.

Donald has received numerous assessors training, in which he has provided assistance to other law enforcement agencies on promotional assessments. In addition, Donald developed and conducted the very first Administrative Management and Special Event Planning and Management Symposium for the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center.

In the areas of training, Donald implemented a training program to meet the interest and needs of the entire Sheriff’s Office and other agencies in an effort to train all employees, not just specific divisions. This has included cultural diversity, civil liability, Managerial Leadership, community resources, and mandated instructional training.

Donald was promoted to Lieutenant in 1999 and became the Day Watch Unit Commander and Field Training Coordinator for the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Service Division. Donald was responsible for the enforcement of federal, state and local laws, civil and criminal process.

Donald was transferred to the Planning and Research Division in 2001 as the Jail Bureau’s Accreditation Manager, Donald was responsible for Jail Bureau departmental policy, procedure development and compliance with accredited standards.

In 2001, Donald was promoted to Senior Lieutenant, while assigned to the Planning and Research Division. In 2002, Donald was instrumental in the Jail Bureau receiving its initial accreditation and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office being the twenty-third agency in the nation to receive the Triple Crown Award from the National Sheriff’s Association for having three major accreditations simultaneously, and the first in the state of Georgia.

In 2003, Donald was promoted to Captain. Currently, Donald is assigned to the policy and accreditation unit at the Jail Bureau. Donald is responsible for the division’s accreditation, policy, procedure development, and compliance.

On December 13, 2009, Donald obtained a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) Degree from Columbus State University.

Donald Ferguson is eminently qualified to be Sheriff of Rockdale County. He holds executive level certifications from The Southern Police Institute 93 Administrative Officers Course, University of Louisville, The Southwestern Law Enforcement Institute of the Southwestern Legal Foundation, and with the Georgia Public Safety Training Center. Donald is currently attending The Georgia Law Enforcement Command College.

Donald also serves as an instructor in the supervisory and managerial instructional programs at the Fulton County Public Safety Training Center, teaching managerial liability, Managing for the Future, Sexual Misconduct among Staff and Inmates and Managerial Planning.

Donald is a former high school and college track standout. Donald previously enjoyed coaching youth sports, which he has since 1989. Donald is the father of three children, Donald DeAndre (attending Georgia Southern Universirty), Kandace (attending University of West Georgia) and Darius (attending Lenoir-Rhyne University).

 

Latest News!

Dems Pick Ferguson 7/16/2008

Sheriff candidates to hold campaign events 6/20/2008

CAMPAIGN SPEECH: The South Rockdale Civic Association
Political Campaign Forum 6/17/2008

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