Sheriff Melody M. Maddox is the 50th Sheriff of DeKalb County, Georgia and makes history as being the first woman to hold the office. As a 28-year law enforcement veteran, Sheriff Maddox is a respected leader and dedicated public servant who is deeply committed to the profession, her family, her faith, and the community. As a lifelong resident of DeKalb County, her vision is to create a safer environment for DeKalb County’s adults, seniors, and young people. Sheriff Maddox is dedicated to the fundamental principles of integrity, excellence, accountability, and respect.
Sheriff Maddox’s distinguished career in law enforcement includes experience with various law enforcement agencies serving the metropolitan area. Sheriff Maddox began her career with the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, going on to serve with both the City of Atlanta and the DeKalb County Police Departments. In 2008, Sheriff Maddox applied that experience to the creation of the public safety office for the rapidly expanding DeKalb Technical College – now Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC), where she became the Assistant Chief of Police and, subsequently, making history as the college’s first female Chief of Police. She was the only woman in that position within the Technical College System of Georgia’s 22 colleges statewide. In 2013, Sheriff Maddox relinquished that position to pursue her longtime goal to become an elected official in law enforcement. She was the only female among seven candidates seeking election as DeKalb County Sheriff in 2014.
Earlier in 2019, Sheriff Maddox returned to the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office as Chief of Administration. On July 1, 2019, then Sheriff Jeffery Mann appointed her Chief Deputy. In this position, she held the highest-ranking non-elected position in the agency and was responsible for the planning and administration of the jail, courts, field, and training operations. Sheriff Maddox is P.O.S.T. (Peace Officer Standard Training) certified and is certified as a defensive tactics instructor and received a certificate in hostage negotiation. Sheriff Maddox’s professional affiliations include the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Women in Public Safety, DeKalb County Chief’s Association, National Sheriffs’ Association, and the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
Sheriff Maddox earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Morris Brown College, a Master of Arts degree in General Administration from Central Michigan University, and a master’s degree in African American Ministries from the Newburgh Theological Seminary/Newburgh College of the Bible. She is a graduate of J. E. Brown High School. During her time at Morris Brown College, Sheriff Maddox was a member of the Wolverines Marching Band ‘Bubbling Brown Sugar’ dance team and competed in Track and Field. Sheriff Maddox completed her degree as a single mother working full-time as an officer of the Morris Brown College Security department.
A tireless community service advocate, Sheriff Maddox is a 2017 graduate of Leadership DeKalb. As CEO of Woman-2-Woman Personal Awareness and Safety Training (W2W P.A.S.T.), Sheriff Maddox has an established reputation throughout the community as an expert in women’s self-defense training and personal safety. Through her W2W P.A.S.T. Prom Sponsorship program, she encourages academic excellence that awards DeKalb high school seniors with a cash gift and prom essentials. She is a member of the DeKalb County NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement, Women for Morris Brown College, Saint Philip A.M.E. Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Since taking Office, Sheriff Maddox has worked tirelessly to implement positive changes within the agency as well as the community. Sheriff Maddox fulfilled her promise of providing a pay increase agency wide as well as elevating recruitment efforts to address the shortage experienced in Law Enforcement nationwide through the ‘Take-Home Electric Vehicle Program” for detention officers. In summer of 2021, Sheriff Maddox developed a free camp to the male youth of DeKalb County entitled “Boys To Men” that garnished much attention and praise that the “Girls To Pearls” camp was implemented in the summer of 2022. These camps gained local and national media coverage for the positive work provided to the lives of those who participated. Most recently, Sheriff Maddox introduced the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office Volunteer Program.
Sheriff Maddox is the recipient of numerous community awards and has been recognized for her exemplary community service on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), and in The Ivy Leaf, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. national magazine, local television, and radio outlets, as well as featured on the cover of numerous magazines and newspapers. In 2019, Women Looking Ahead newsmagazine named her as one of Georgia’s Most Powerful and Influential Law Enforcement Officials. In 2021, Sheriff was the recipient of the Pioneer Award on behalf of Congressman Hank Johnson of the 4th Congressional District of Georgia. In 2022, Sheriff received the Living Legend Award from My Sister’s Keeper DeKalb and the 2023 Public Service Honoree of the Year from Women of Distinction, Inc. A DeKalb County resident, Sheriff Maddox has a daughter, Indira, three grandchildren, and one God-grandchild.