CANTON — Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison officially announced Tuesday his plans to seek a sixth term in office.

Garrison, 50, became the first Georgia sheriff to receive the Egon Bittner Accreditation Award in November, an award given to those who lead an accredited law enforcement agency for more than 15 years.

He pledged to continue to maintain the high standards in office that contributed to his agency becoming the first sheriff’s office in Georgia to be nationally accredited in 1996.

“One of my key issues in the next four years will be to very aggressively continue to fight the flow of illegal drugs into the community,” he said, noting the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squads is one of most efficient and aggressive units in country.

He said he also vows to continue to serve the public of Cherokee County with the level of professional law enforcement they have come to expect, despite facing budget constraints as a result of the recession.

“I pledge to keep all precincts open, despite losing 30 deputy sheriff positions over the past three years, as well as $3 million in funding,” Garrison said, adding that every precinct is vital to maintaining each of Cherokee County’s individual communities.

Sheriff Garrison and his wife of 29 years, Shelia Garrison, live in Canton. They have one 24-year-old son, Wesley.

Sheriff Garrison is involved in numerous local organizations, including the American Cancer Society, the Cherokee Council on Child Abuse and the Cherokee Chamber of Commerce, where he has served on the board of directors. He is a Gold Member of the Cherokee County Republican Party.

“I’m very excited about the next four years and continuing to serve and provide the community with very aggressive, professional law enforcement,” he said.

David Waters of Ball Ground will run against Garrison as a Republican candidate.