--- title: SR 395. Maddox, Sheriff Melody M.; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr395 cite_as: SR 395, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr395 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr395.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr395/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71380 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr394.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr396.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr395.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 395 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Donzella James - Michael Rhett - Nan Orrock - Derek Mallow - Jason Esteves - Randal Mangham - Tonya Anderson - Gail Davenport - Kenya Wicks - Sally Harrell - RaShaun Kemp - Elena Parent text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR395/2025 upstream_id: 2006955 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - law enforcement - DeKalb County - Senate resolution - sheriff recognition --- # SR 395. Maddox, Sheriff Melody M.; recognize ## Text 25 LC 112 3371 Senate Resolution 395 By: Senators James of the 28th, Rhett of the 33rd, Orrock of th e 36th, Mallow of the 2nd, Esteves of the 35th and others A RESOLUTION Recognizing and commending Sheriff Melody M. Maddox; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Sheriff Melody M. Maddox has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to2 public safety and law enforcement throughout her distinguished career, which spans more3 than 20 years of service with numerous agencies in the metropolitan Atlanta area; and4 WHEREAS, in 2008, she applied her expertise to the creation of the public safety office for5 DeKalb Technical College, now Georgia Piedmont Technical Colleg e, where she became6 assistant chief of police and was appointed thereafter as the institution's first female chief of7 police, making history as the only woman to hold such a positio n within the Technical8 College System of Georgia's 22 colleges; and9 WHEREAS, in 2013, Sheriff Maddox left her position as chief of police to pursue her10 long-standing goal of serving as an elected official in law enforcement; and11 WHEREAS, she returned to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office in 2019 as chief of12 administration and was subsequently promoted to chief deputy, t he highest-ranking13 non-elected position in the agency, where she oversaw critical functions of the jail, courts,14 and training operations; and15 S. R. 395 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3371 WHEREAS, following the retirement of Sheriff Mann, she was appointed to complete the16 remainder of his unexpired term and was sworn in as DeKalb Coun ty's 50th sheriff on17 December 1, 2019, where she has since served with honor and distinction; and18 WHEREAS, Sheriff Maddox's professional affiliations include the Georgia Association of19 Chiefs of Police, International Association of Chiefs of Police , National Sheriffs'20 Association, National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Ex ecutives, Women in21 Public Safety, and the DeKalb County Chief's Association; and22 WHEREAS, she further serves her community as a dedicated member of the DeKalb County23 NAACP, National Council of Negro Women, Women for Morris Brown College, Saint24 Philip AME Church, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; and25 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that gratitude is expressed for the unique and26 often unheralded contributions of local law enforcement profess ionals on behalf of the27 citizens of this state.28 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body29 recognize and commend Sheriff Melody M. Maddox for her exceptio nal service in law30 enforcement and her invaluable contributions to the DeKalb County community as well as31 extend best wishes for continued success.32 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed33 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Sheriff Melody34 M. Maddox.35 S. R. 395 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution honors DeKalb County Sheriff Melody M. Maddox for her career in law enforcement, including becoming the county's 50th sheriff. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution passed by the Georgia Senate recognizing Sheriff Melody M. Maddox of DeKalb County. It does not change any law; instead it formally commends her career and directs that a copy be given to her. The resolution recounts her more than 20 years in law enforcement in metropolitan Atlanta, including creating the public safety office at what is now Georgia Piedmont Technical College and becoming its first female police chief. It notes she later returned to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, rose to chief deputy, and was appointed sheriff in December 2019 after her predecessor retired. The Senate resolves to recognize and commend her service and directs the Secretary of the Senate to provide her a copy of the resolution. ### What it does - Formally recognizes and commends Sheriff Melody M. Maddox for her law enforcement career and service to DeKalb County. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Sheriff Maddox. - Creates no new law, funding, or enforceable requirement; it is a ceremonial statement by the Senate. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors Sheriff Melody M. Maddox and references the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and Georgia Piedmont Technical College, but it does not impose obligations on any other group. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect on Georgians generally; it serves as an official, public acknowledgment by the Georgia Senate of one official's career, which may be read into the record and given to her as a keepsake. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses detail Sheriff Maddox's career history, including her 2008 role creating a public safety office and later becoming chief deputy and sheriff. - The resolved clause has the Senate recognize and commend her service and extend best wishes for continued success. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make a copy available for distribution to her. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Donzella James, Michael Rhett, Nan Orrock, Derek Mallow, Jason Esteves, Randal Mangham, Tonya Anderson, Gail Davenport, Kenya Wicks, Sally Harrell, RaShaun Kemp, Elena Parent - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/71380 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr395.md?full=1