Greg Wright has been named chief deputy of the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office.
Previously the head of the department’s criminal investigation division, Wright will take over for former Chief Deputy Marc Miley, who retired last week.
Sheriff Mike Arledge announced Wright’s new position at a LCSO assembly Monday evening.
“I’ve been knowing Greg for a long time,” Arledge said. “… Probably 30-plus years I would imagine. … I look at Greg not only as a chief deputy or under-sheriff, but I look at him as a friend. We’ve been friends a long time and I think he’s going to do us all a good job.”
A 30-plus-year law enforcement veteran, Wright has worked at LCSO since 1991, with more than 20 years investigation experience. He started his law enforcement career in 1987, at the Moss Point Police Department. He graduated from the police academy in 1988. He’s also worked with the Oxford and Batesville police departments, and during that time he worked on the Panola-Tate narcotics task force.
He served as chief deputy under previous Sheriff Butch Howard for four years and interim sheriff until Arledge was first elected in 2011.
Wright was later reassigned to Golden Triangle Regional Airport as a lieutenant. In 2017, he was promoted to captain and placed in charge of investigations.
“It’s going to be my honor and privilege to serve as chief deputy once again here,” Wright told media present at the assembly. “I’m looking forward to it. I think we’ve got a wonderful group of men and women that work in the department here, and it’s a privilege to serve them.”
At the assembly, Wright told officers he plans to meet with them individually in the coming weeks to hear their opinions on how the department is operating.
“As most of you know about me, I am a hands on person,” he told officers. “I like to get involved, I like to know what’s going on. I like to meet, talk, share with you your concerns, share with you your casework, share with you your ups, your downs, when you want to say something good and praise something or when you want to complain and gripe about something. I want to be there to hear it.
“I feel like everybody in this department is a valuable member,” he added.
Wright has also qualified as a Republican in the upcoming sheriff’s race. He will face fellow Republican Rick Jones in the primary in May.
Arledge has said he does not plan to run again.
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