Sheriff Dennis Meeks has announced he will seek re-election to the office of sheriff in the June 2018 Republican primary.

Meeks is currently serving in his third term.

He began his tenure with the Covington County Sheriff’s Office in 1993 as a dispatcher and corrections officer.

He graduated from Southwest Alabama Police Academy in 1994 and worked as a patrolman with the sheriff’s office until he was promoted to investigations.

He served as chief investigator and chief deputy before being elected sheriff of Covington County in November 2006.

He was re-elected in November 2010 and November 2014.

Meeks was born and reared in Covington County.

His parents are Johnnie Meeks and the late Ouida Meeks.

He graduated from Opp High School.

He is married to the former Altheia Veasey Mullen, and they have three daughters and six grandchildren.

They are members at Southside Baptist Church in Andalusia.

During his tenure as sheriff there have been two additions to the Covington County Jail.

The first was a 48-bed work release dorm, which opened in April 2007.

The other was a 36-bed female addition, which opened in September 2016.

These two additions have dramatically reduced jail overcrowding. Additional security measures, policy changes and officers training have also lead to a more safe and secure Covington County Jail.

Through 2006, there was only one officer working as security at the courthouse.

After taking office in 2007, two additional officers were put in place at the courthouse to be in attendance during courtroom proceedings and to provide more security for the employees who work in the courthouse and the citizens who come to do business at the courthouse.

The sheriff’s office has three school resource officers that teach Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program to all fifth grade students in Covington County.

Each year there are around 500 students who graduate the program.

Since taking office in 2007, through different grants and working with the federal government’s 1033 LESO program, the sheriff’s office has received almost $1,000,000 in grants and equipment.

Meeks is a former member of the Legislative Committee with the Alabama’s Sheriff’s Association, former chairman District 7 director with the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, served as sergeant at arms, chaplain and currently serving as secretary/treasurer of the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, Executive Committee member with the Boys and Girls Ranches of Alabama, Chairman of the 22nd Judicial Drug Task Force and a member of the Covington County E-911 board.

“It is my privilege and honor to serve the citizens of Covington County as your sheriff,” he said. “I am asking that you let me continue to serve and work for you, continuing to and work for you, continuing to improve the sheriff’s office and making it one the citizens of this great county can be proud of.”