BLECKLEY COUNTY, Ga. — Bleckley County has a new sheriff in town.
Daniel Cape has served as Interim Sheriff for Bleckley County and on Tuesday, he won a close race against student resource officer Chris Smith.
However, Cape is no stranger to serving Bleckley County. He was born and raised in Hawkinsville, but moved to Bleckly County when he was a junior in high school.
As a kid, Cape said he always wanted to be a police officer.
Then at the age of 22, he joined the sheriff's department and worked his way up to chief deputy for seven years. He then became interim sheriff in August after former Bleckley County Sheriff Kris Coody stepped down.
Now, Cape is the sheriff of Bleckley County.
He's worked with the sheriff's office for over 20 years and said he's developed a top ten list of things he wants to get done within the next year. It includes getting drugs and gangs off the streets and investing in more mental health resources. But Cape says he just wants to serve a community that has served him his whole life.
"One thing about sheriffing, it's never the same every day and I think that's part of why I've always grown to love it," Cape said. "To be honest, last night it was still very surreal and I don't think it had really settled in but as I woke up this morning, I'm starting to realize like this is real."
The first thing Cape does when he goes into the office is greet people.
He recalls when he was a young deputy everyone goes through their good and bad days but to start your day off with a hello or a good morning and a check-up, he says it means as much to him as it does to others.
"Talking to people, interacting with people, letting people know that you're accessible, they can talk to you, that's something that we should be doing all the time," Cape said. "I think those are the kinds of things that mean something to people, to know that the sheriff of your county, when you need him, you can reach out to him or have him come see you, whatever the case may be."
When it comes to the community, Nora Fowler, who's known Cape for the past 15 years, says he always put others before himself.
"He knows what goes on in the community," Fowler said. "He's talking to people and people are communicating with him. Communication is the best way to get to know your people. I would like to see him doing more with kids here. We don't have that many activities for them to do here. I'd just like to see this place grow a little bit better for our kids."
Now, Cape says he's ready to serve Bleckley County.
"I am your sheriff," Cape said. "I'm here to serve you in any capacity that I can. I'm not gonna fix all your problems or be able to handle every situation but I'm gonna do the best that I can do to help any and all people, and do what's best for Bleckley County and hopefully give them a sheriff's office they're proud of."
Cape will serve out the final year of Kris Coody's term as sheriff. Cape will have to run again next year if he wants a full term on the job.