Command Staff

Administrative Services Division

Major Todd Druse
^{Administrative Services Division Commander}Major Todd Druse began his law enforcement career in January, 1992 with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department. He was certified as a peace officer later that year when he graduated from the Public Safety Training Institute (PSTI) in Jonesboro, Georgia. In late 1993, he left Gwinnett County and accepted employment with the City of Auburn Police Department, where he worked until February, 1997, when the department closed.

Major Druse then joined the City of Winder Police Department where he worked for more than eleven years. During that time he had many different functions, including night shift patrol, School Resource Officer, commander of the Special Operations Division, and patrol shift supervisor. He served the Winder Police Department as a Hostage Negotiator and Public Information Officer, as well as a Georgia-certified firearms instructor and Field Training Officer (FTO).

Major Druse joined the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office in January, 2009 as the commander of the Uniform Patrol Division, where he served until July, 2016. He is currently assigned as the commander of the Administrative Division. Major Druse is married and has one daughter. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Ashford University.

Captain Scott Royles
^{Administrative Services Assistant Division Commander}Captain Scott Royles began his law enforcement career with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections in 1996 and in 2002 Captain Royles accepted a patrol officer’s position with the Gwinnett County Police Department. After leaving the Gwinnett County Police Department, Captain Royles began employment with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office in 2006. While employed with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Captain Royles has been assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division, the Traffic Enforcement Unit, the Criminal Investigations Division, and was a Motorcycle Operations deputy. Captain Royles was an active team member of the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics team from 2007 until 2013.

Captain Royles is a certified Instructor, Crime Scene Investigator, Field Training Officer, and is a graduate of Harrisburg Area Community College with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice specializing in forensic science.

Captain Royles has received multiple awards during his law enforcement career to include the Meritorious Service Medal, Deputy of the Year, and many letters of recognition from citizens. Captain Royles is an Army veteran and a member of Prince of Peace Catholic church.

Enforcement Bureau

Major Ryan Sears
^{Enforcement Bureau Chief}Major Ryan Sears started his law enforcement career with the University of Georgia Police Department while attending college and later received his Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice from the Pennsylvania (Penn) State University in 2009. Major Sears resigned from the University of Georgia Police Department in June of 2003 and came to work at the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff. Within the first six months of employment, Deputy Sears was transferred to the traffic unit and then four months later became a K-9 handler with his K-9, “Ranger.”

Deputy Sears was promoted to the rank of Sergeant over the traffic unit in March 2005 and stayed in that position until being promoted to Lieutenant over the Office of Professional Standards in January, 2015. In December of 2015, Lieutenant Sears was promoted to Captain and made Division Commander of the Administrative Services Division where he eventually was promoted to the rank of Major. Major Sears is currently the Major over the Enforcement Bureau which includes Uniform Patrol and Criminal Investigations.

Major Sears has received several awards during his law enforcement career such as the Sustained Superior Performance Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Supervisor of the Year, and the Community Crime Prevention Award. Major Sears has been married for twenty years and has two children. He and his family are members of 12Stone Church.

Captain Vince Henderson
^{Uniform Patrol Division Commander}Captain Vince Henderson began his law enforcement career with the University of Georgia Police Department. Vince has lived in Barrow County since the mid-80s and graduated from Winder Barrow High School in 1997. He is married to Ginny and has three children, Natalie, Clayton, and Barrett.

He is currently working towards his Bachelor Degree and has completed the Georgia Law Enforcement Command College at Columbus State University.

Captain Henderson was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant while at the University of Georgia Police Department and was the team leader for the UGA PD SRT team. He took a deputy’s position with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office in 2005 and was promoted to Uniform Patrol Shift Lieutenant in 2007. After serving as a Lieutenant for seven years, he was promoted to Uniform Patrol Captain in June of 2014. Captain Henderson is a certified Instructor and holds specialized Instructor certifications in Firearms, Shotgun, Defensive Tactics, DUI Detection, CPR, SWAT, and Taser. Captain Henderson is the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Commander.

Captain Henderson has received several awards during his career such as Officer of the year, Supervisor of the year, and a Purple Heart Award to name a few. Captain Henderson is dedicated to the citizens and visitors of Barrow County and strives daily to promote the Sheriff’s goals for a professional and ethical Office and a safe and secure community.

Captain Decorian Almond
^{Criminal Investigations Division Commander}Captain Cory Almond began his law enforcement career with the Commerce Police Department in 2006. Captain Almond resigned from the Commerce Police Department and came to work at the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff in April of 2007. Within his first year of employment with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Almond was transferred to the traffic unit. After four years on the traffic unit, Deputy Almond was then promoted to the rank of Criminal Investigator in 2011.

In August of 2014, Investigator Almond was promoted to the rank of Sergeant over the property crimes unit. In December of 2015, Sergeant Almond was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and Assistant Division Commander of Administrative Services Division. In July of 2016, Lieutenant Almond was promoted to the rank of Captain and Division Commander of the Enforcement Bureau-Criminal Investigations. Captain Almond earned his Associates of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Institute of Technology in March of 2013. He then obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University in May, 2016.

Captain Almond has received several awards during his law enforcement career such as Meritorious Service Medal, Investigator of the Year, Supervisor of the Year and Civil Servant of the Year. Captain Almond is a resident of Watkinsville, Georgia. He attends Cornerstone Church in Athens, Georgia. Captain Almond is a huge supporter ESP (Extra Special People) a non-profit organization which helps children and young adults with special needs flourish.

Sheriff’s Services Division

Major Timothy S. Hines
^{Sheriff’s Services Division Commander}Major Hines joined the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office in July of 1996 as a detention officer in the detention center. He attended the 403rd Basic Mandate class at Northeast Georgia Police Academy in Athens, graduating second in his class in academics. After becoming certified and a sworn deputy, Major Hines briefly worked in Court Services before transitioning to the Uniform Patrol Division as a patrol deputy.

Major Hines held several supervisory positions within the Uniform Patrol Division before transferring in 2005 to the Criminal Investigations Division as an investigator and, eventually, a supervisor within the Property Crimes Unit. He also concurrently served on the Sheriff’s Special Response Team and S.W.A.T. Team for most of his career at the Sheriff’s Office. Major Hines was appointed by Sheriff Smith as Assistant Commander of the Criminal Investigations Division in 2011, and promoted to Commander in 2015.

After the restructuring of the Sheriff’s Office on July 1, 2016, Sheriff Smith named Major Hines the new Enforcement Bureau Chief, managing both the Uniform Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigations Division. In February of 2022, Major Hines transferred to the Sheriff’s Services Division Commander role, and now oversees the Courthouse Security Unit and Civil/Transport Unit.

Major Hines has received several awards during his service at the Sheriff’s Office, to include Master Marksman, Deputy of the Year, Investigator of the Year, Tactical Officer of the Year, the Sheriff’s Citation for Meritorious Service, and the Sheriff’s Life Saving Medal. Major Hines is a certified Jailor, Field Training Officer, and Senior Deputy. He has also completed his Intermediate and Advanced P.O.S.T. certifications, as well as his Supervisory and Managerial certifications. Major Hines attended the University of Georgia, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University.

Detention Bureau

Major Robert A. White
^{Detention Bureau Chief}Major R. A. White began his law enforcement career in 1994 as a Patrolman with the City of Auburn police department. In 1998 he was hired by the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office as a Sheriff’s Deputy and was assigned to the Uniform Patrol Division. In 2002, Deputy White was promoted to the rank of Corporal and remained with the Uniform Patrol Division. In 2003 Corporal White was promoted to the rank of Investigator and assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division as a narcotics investigator.

In 2005, Investigator White was promoted to Lieutenant and reassigned to the Uniform Patrol Division as a Shift Commander. He remained in that position until being promoted to Assistant Division Commander over the Administrative Services Division. When Sheriff Jud Smith took office in 2009, he promoted Lieutenant White to the rank of Captain, and placed him in the position of Division Commander; overseeing the Administrative Services Division.

In December 2015 Sheriff Smith promoted Major White to his current rank of Major. Major White is the Sheriff’s Chief Jailer and is the Division Commander over the Detention Division. During his tenure with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office, Major White has received numerous awards, citations, and letters of commendation and appreciation. In 2000 he received the Sheriff’s Medal of Valor for his actions in the line of duty.

Major White believes in the benefits of training. He has obtained his Basic, Intermediate and Advanced P.O.S.T. Certifications, as well has his P.O.S.T. Supervisor and Managerial certificates. He is also a P.O.S.T. certified Senior Deputy and Field Training Officer. Major White is Veteran of the US Military. He enlisted in the United States Army as an Infantry Soldier in 1990, serving overseas until 1993 when he left active duty service and joined the Georgia Army National Guard. He served in the National Guard until he was honorably discharged in 1997. Major White has been a resident of Barrow County since 1997. He and his wife have been married since 2006 and they have one son. They live in Winder and attend Calvary Baptist Church.

Captain Daniel Coles
^{Jail Operations Commander}
Captain Daniel Coles started his career with the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office in 1998 as a Detention Officer. He has held many positions in his twenty plus year career at the Barrow County Detention Center and has made Detention Operations his career focus. Captain Coles is a POST Certified Instructor and a certified Field Training Officer. He is currently the Jail Operations Commander.

Captain Coles has been married to his wife Tiffany for 20 years. They have two children. He is a veteran of the United States Coast Guard. He has been recognized and received several awards for his community involvement.