Mike Granthum is eager to get started as the new Sheriff in Dallas County.

Granthum officially gets sworn in on Friday morning at 10:45 a.m. at the Dallas County Courthouse.

Granthum won election by defeating Michael D. Goings 5,933 to 4,749 votes in the Primary election on June 5, 2018. Granthum won with 52 percent of the vote, compared to Goings at 42 percent.

A graduate of Sidney Lanier High School, Granthum brings plenty of law enforcement experience to the position. From 2002 to 2018, Granthum served as Captain (Chief Investigator) for the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department. He also worked with the Selma Police Department (SPD).

“I’m excited to get into the office,” Granthum said. “I’ve got 25 years on the books in law enforcement. I love the people of Dallas County. Their safety and well-being weighs heavily on my heart and goes into a lot of my decision making.”

Granthum has set goals in his new job.

“I’ve got a lot of new ideas,” Granthum said. “We’ll be proactive and open up to the community. Getting to know the community is huge. We solve crimes with forensics, but we can’t do anything without the public. I want the public to trust us. We have a good rapport with the public, but it can get better.”

Outgoing Dallas County Sheriff Harris Huffman Jr.  decided not to seek re-election after serving six terms, ending a 24-year tenure and 38 years overall in the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO). Huffman expressed in Granthum succeeding him.

“Mike’s got a good head on his shoulders, well-educated for the job and is a good people person,” Huffman said.

Granthum said he enjoyed working under Huffman.

“I learned a lot from Sheriff Huffman,” Granthum said. “I learned how to treat people. There’s no way you can replace Sheriff Huffman. You can’t fill his shoes.”

Dallas County Probate Judge Kim Ballard praised Huffman’s years of service and likes Granthum as his successor.

“Huffman will be greatly missed, but Mike will come close to filling his shoes,” Ballard said.