Meet Your Sheriff

Born and raised in Rabun County, Sheriff Chad Nichols is married to Dr. Jamie Bleckley Nichols, a retired educator from the Rabun County School System. Sheriff Nichols has two children as well. He is a veteran law enforcement professional who has spent the majority of the past two decades protecting and serving Rabun County citizens.

Sheriff Nichols joined the Rabun County Sheriff's Office in 1998 and has risen through the ranks. He began his career as a jailer, then became a dispatcher, deputy sheriff, and patrol division sergeant. During his tenure with the Sheriff's Office, he was active in the schools as a mentor, wrote and maintained grants, and participated in other community and school-related events. Most recently, Sheriff Nichols was the Chief of Police in Baldwin, Georgia. Under his command, the police department was recognized by the mayor for helping make Baldwin the second safest city in Georgia.

During his law enforcement career, Sheriff Nichols has completed over 2,500 hours of law enforcement training and education, including supervision and management. His training includes:

• Supervision Levels 1, 2, and 3.
• Management Levels 1, 2, and 3.
• Chief Executive Training.
• Law Enforcement Certification Manager’s Course.
• Law Enforcement Certification Assessor's Course.
• Terminal Agency Coordinator Certification.
• Security and Integrity, Managerial Liability & E.E.O.C.
• Employee Discipline & Employee Performance.
• Leadership/Management Role of the Chief.
• Department Organization.
• Police Manpower Allocation & Community Policing.
• Developing Policies, Budgeting for Executives.
• Human Resources.

Upon being elected, Sheriff Nichols was mandated to attend the 160-hour Sheriffs-Elect Academy that covers many different topics related to Sheriff's Office operations, which includes the numerous unfunded mandates that the office requires. A few of those mandates are listed at the bottom of the page.

Since being elected Sheriff, Sheriff Nichols was selected and attended the 115th Session of the National Sheriff's Institute in Aurora, Colorado, and the 11th Session of the F.B.I. LEEDS Program held at the F.B.I. Office in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sheriff Nichols believes in serving and protecting our county by working with the community to achieve this goal. He is proud to serve the county in the highest capacity possible. He is deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Sheriff of Rabun County.