Walls Seeks Second Term
As Sheriff of Marshall County

May 2, 2010
Sheriff Scott Walls is looking forward to serving the citizens of Marshall County another four years. He is pleased to formally announce that he is seeking re-election to a second term in the November 2010 General Election. Walls is unopposed as a Democrat and therefore will sit out the Primary Election in June.

W was elected to his first term as sheriff in 2006. It was a great victory for Walls who garnered more than 56% of the votes. The win by more than 12 points over his Republican opponent proved that Walls had earned the respect and support of voters of every political persuasion.

The theme for his 2010 re-election campaign is “Keep Walls Between You and Crime”. Walls said the campaign is an important opportunity to show the citizens how his many accomplishments have improved the quality of life in Marshall County. His campaign will also encourage non-partisanship by educating voters on the importance of filling in the line to complete the arrow pointing to Walls’ name on the November ballot to make certain their vote for Walls is counted.

Walls listed some of his accomplishments during his first term:

"Upon taking the oath of office as Sheriff in 2007, I pledged to return respect, accountability and professional performance to the office. I have kept that pledge and am proud to now oversee what is now, without question, one of the finest law enforcement agencies in the state,” Walls stated.

In just three and half years under Walls’ leadership, the Sheriff’s Office has made significant progress in three of the most important concerns to our communities:

Crystal Meth – Walls acquired federal funds to provide the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office with a proven effective anti-methamphetamine program to keep drugs and criminals off our streets.

Immigration – Working with Federal Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officers, Walls is keeping his promise to enforce every illegal immigration law available to his office. He ensures that his department is reimbursed under federal law for the expense of holding every illegal immigrant in the County Jail so that the citizens of Marshall County are not burdened with the expense.

Sex Offenders – To keep a close watch on the 120 sex offenders living in Marshall County, Walls implemented the only monthly check-in program in the state. Alabama only requires that a sex offender check in with their local sheriff’s office every six months. Walls also established a system that automatically alerts residents when sex offenders move to their neighborhood and notifies victims and other interested people when a particular inmate is released from the jail.

Walls acquired federal grants to also provide deputies with modern technology to better serve citizens. New fingerprint identification system, laptop computers, new records and jail management computer software, jail surveillance system, increased jail perimeter security, and Tasers are just a few of the technological advances at the sheriff’s office since Walls took office.

Walls established a reputation for good old-fashioned detective work with his success in solving a couple of high profile cold cases as well. Other achievements under Sheriff Walls include the new Yellow Dot Identification program for senior citizen motorists and the Are You Okay (R U Ok) Program for homebound citizens. He also re-established a program that uses prisoners to pick up litter and keep Marshall County clean. And citizens can now apply for a pistol permit online thanks to the sheriff’s office website, www.marshallcosheriff.org.

“I believe community involvement is instrumental in continuing our progress. I will continue to maintain a close working relationship with all surrounding law enforcement agencies as well as the community crime watch organizations. I believe working closely with our citizens is instrumental in continuing the progress we started almost four years ago. I will continue to maintain a true open door policy and welcome our citizens to visit me anytime with problems or concerns they have,” Walls said.

Sheriff Walls has also proven to be a great administrator. His fiscal responsibility and focus on streamlining services allowed the sheriff’s office to return $278,000 of the department’s 2009 approved budget to the county’s General Fund, when the citizens of Marshall County needed it most. Under Walls the sheriff’s office has received more than $400,000 in federal grants.

Walls’ experience in law enforcement began 30 years ago as a Reserve Deputy Sheriff. Since then he has served as a Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant/Patrol Supervisor, and Investigator with the sheriff’s office. He also served as an Investigator of Violent Crimes and Child Abuse with the Marshall County District Attorney’s Office. Before being elected as Sheriff, Walls served as Chief of Police of the City of Guntersville for 10 years.

In addition, Walls has served on many important committees including:

• City of Guntersville Chairman / Traffic Control Board
• Marshall County Child Advocacy Center/Founding Board of Directors Member
• Marshall County Drug Task Force Vice-Chairman / Board of Directors
• Marshall County Methamphetamine Task Force/Member - Law Enforcement Advisory Committee
• Drug Free Marshall County Board of Directors
• Marshall County Chief's of Police Association Member
• Marshall County E - 911 Secretary - Treasurer / Board of Directors
• Marshall County Community Corrections Board of Directors
• Marshall County Fraternal Order of Police #18 Member and Trustee
• Marshall County Homeland Security Task Force Member
• Marshall County Board of Education - Advisory Committee Member
• Alabama Attorney Generals Legislative Committee Member
• Alabama Attorney Generals Selection Committee for
"Officer of the Year" Award
• Alabama Attorney Generals Council on Elder Abuse and ExploitationMember and Speaker
• Alabama Chief's of Police, Member and State Education and Training Committee Member
• Alabama Chief's of Police Chairman / Member of Life Committee
• Alabama League of Municipalities, State Law Enforcement Advisory Committee on Education and Training
• Alabama Peace Officer's Association Member
• Alzheimer's Services of Marshall County / Advisory Board Member
• ITT College / Law Enforcement Advisory Board
• Alabama Sheriff's Association Member / Alabama Sheriff's Association Legislative Committee

“It has been and will continue to be the honor of my life to serve as your Sheriff. I have demonstrated and established a history of professionalism, responsibility and accountability in providing quality law enforcement and emergency response to this county."

“From the bottom of my heart, I humbly thank the citizens of Marshall County for their continued support. It is my heartfelt desire to continue the progress we have started. We have worked hard to bring your sheriff’s office into the age of technology and will continue to seek new ways to improve the service we provide.”

Walls, 52, and his wife Lynn have been married for 20 years. Lynn is the Chief Clerk in the Marshall County Revenue Department and has worked there for the last twenty three years. Daughter Natalie has an Associate Degree from Snead State Community College in Elementary Education and is pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Athens University. Natalie is married to Casey Smith of Grant and they have a son, Landen. Casey attended Auburn University and is currently teaching Landscape Turf and Design at Marshall County Technical School.

Walls’ son Joseph owns “W” Landscape and Design Company in Arab and is married to Denielle DeGolier from Jasper, Georgia. Denielle works for Dr. Freeman in Arab.
Son Josh is trainer and farm manager at a large horse ranch in Owenton, Kentucky.

Voters can get more information on the Sheriff’s campaign for re-election by visiting www.wallsforsheriff.com