During his 55th community meeting, which was held at Medon, Tuesday evening, John Mehr, Sheriff of Madison County was asked point blank if he would be running for re-election in 2022.

“It’s not an official statement, but I said ‘yes,'” Mehr said, “I’m not retiring – not at this time – but I am running.”

The qualifying deadline to run for Sheriff is Feb. 17, 2022.

The Republican Primary will be held May 3, 2022, followed by the August 4 General Election.

Mehr, who is seeking a third term, was first elected in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.

“Our goal is to be proactive in the county, and the key is having the officers presence,” Mehr said, “We bring in a lot of training which helps the officers do their job. It’s the officers, the equipment, plus communication – we’re constantly looking for new ways to make this a better community.”

Mehr said a $300,000 mental transport grant for personnel and vehicles used for all involuntary people being evaluated at facilities became the pilot program for the state of Tennessee.

Mehr said he also believes a $3.2 million mental illness grant he helped secure has been of great value for the sheriff’s department.

“It’s been very important,” Mehr said, “So many people suffer from mental illness, and part of our work is working with other organizations across the nation. The grant built a mental health area for the patients, which is a diversion program.

“When an officer brings someone in who does have a mental illness – instead of going through the same process of being locked up, they immediately get help.”

Mehr also said his department doesn’t wait for problems to arrive in Madison County.

“We learn from other communities across the nation,” Mehr said, “We want to know what they are experiencing – we have to be proactive. We can’t wait for issues to come to us – we have to prepare ahead of time.”

(PHOTO: John Mehr, Madison County Sheriff)