Marion County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Kevin Cripps has announced he will be a Republican candidate for the office of Marion County Sheriff in the June primary. He says he is running for sheriff to ensure Marion County is a safer place to live, work play and raise a family.
“It has taken a very long time for me to come to this decision. It’s always been a childhood dream to be a cop, and then once I started in the Sheriff’s Office I always had an interest in being the Sheriff. I absolutely respect the office, the department, and all the departments within it. I’m just kind of excited about the possibility of leading that someday.”
Cripps has worked at every level at the sheriff’s department since starting as a dispatcher in 1997. He’s also served as a correctional officer, deputy, detective, and sergeant. In addition, he currently serves as the current Iuka Grade School President, is a member of the Iuka Fire Protection District Board of Trustees, serves on the Salem Little League Board, and has also been a firefighter, Lieutenant, and Captain of the Iuka Fire Department.
Cripps says part of the reason he is running for Sheriff is to serve as a local backstop against public policies coming down from Springfield that stifle enthusiasm and morale and make the jobs of police officers more difficult. He has another goal if elected sheriff.
“I really want to work with the youth in our county. That is always something that has been a highlight throughout my career. I’ve always been involved in sports in our community being a coach and so forth. I’ve invested a large portion of my time volunteering in things that involve our youth. I just think it’s very important to work with our youth now so we have a better tomorrow.”
Cripps says he is sincerely committed to serving the public, noting his wide variety of life experience, law enforcement background, a multitude of certifications and training hours and his record as a volunteer which he feels makes him the best candidate to serve and lead as Marion County’s next sheriff.
