Badges of Honor: Meet two leaders at the Chatham County Sheriff's Office

Meet Lieutenant Colonel Nicole Scott-Bond and Chief Deputy McArthur Holmes, who both made history with the Chatham County Sheriff's Office

This July, the United States of America will turn 250 years old. But the country is still younger than the Chatham County Sheriff's Office, which is still making history of its own.

This July, the United States of America will turn 250 years old. But the country is still younger than the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office.

Established in 1732, the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office is the oldest sheriff’s office in Georgia and one of the oldest in the U.S. The office has gone through many changes throughout the years, but its mission remains the same: to provide the highest standard of protection and service to the people of Chatham County.

And after 294 years, the office is still making history. In August of 2025, Major Nicole Scott-Bond was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. She is the first woman in the history of the office to reach this rank. A month later, Colonel McArthur Holmes came out of retirement to become the office’s Chief Deputy. He is the first African-American in the office’s history to hold this position.

Both of these milestones come from a lifetime of service.

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Pursuing Excellence

Lt. Col. Scott-Bond first became intrigued with law enforcement as a teenager, watching shows like 21 Jump Street and wondering if she might be a good cop. But her strengths as an athlete led her to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education. She taught public school for a few years after graduation, but still felt the pull of law enforcement.

“A family friend was working at the sheriff’s office, and said I should give it a try,” she recalls. “I started working as a correctional officer in 2002. There are a lot of female officers in the correctional facility, and it was a very supportive environment, working for women and with other women. It helped me see what was possible for my career.”

Lt. Col. Scott-Bond says she became “like a sponge,” learning everything she could about each department. Along with corrections, Lt. Col. Scott-Bond has worked in street operations, court services, and special investigations. She also earned a Master’s degree while raising her two boys.

Her sons were there at her pinning ceremony in August, along with other family and friends.

“I just try to build on what I’ve done,” she says. “For me, the pursuit of excellence is about always applying yourself. I am a mentor to some of the newer female officers here, and I always tell them there are no secrets to success. Just stay focused, and you can do this, too.”

The Next Level

The openness to learning and taking on different roles as they became available is also what shaped the career of Chief Deputy McArthur Holmes.

“I started back in 1978 under Sheriff Carl Griffin,” Holmes says. “They let me know that for some parts of the job, you have to learn as you go. And I had no problem with that. I made myself available to whatever was needed.”

Chief Deputy Holmes held several positions throughout his career, an experience he says is unique in law enforcement.

“We deal with the streets, we deal with corrections, and we deal with the courts,” Holmes says. “We are engaged with the community, and we interact with every other law enforcement agency—federal, state and local.”

Holmes retired fifteen years ago and was enjoying his time at home with different hobbies and reruns of Gunsmoke. But when the call came to serve as Chief Deputy, Holmes proudly accepted. It was not only a milestone for his career but for the organization—Holmes is the first African-American to be appointed Chief Deputy in the history of the office.

“This was a big thing for me,” he says. “I’m proud of the confidence this office had that we can work together and take Chatham County to the levels that we know it can reach.”

Did You Know The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office Helps People With Dementia?

As passionate as Lt. Col. Scott-Bond and Chief Deputy Holmes are about law enforcement, they also emphasize how the mission of the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office involves serving the community. Part of that effort is helping to quickly rescue patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia who become lost or disoriented.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, six in ten people living with dementia may become confused about their location, making them unable to find their way home. This can be potentially dangerous to the patient and incredibly stressful to caregivers. The Chatham County Sheriff’s Office uses the Project Lifesaver program to quickly find patients at risk for wandering. Registered participants wear transmitter bracelets that have a unique signal, allowing officers to locate them quickly.

The office has also collaborated with the Alzheimer’s Association to bring education about the disease to senior centers and other community meetings throughout Chatham County.

“Working with people, making sure everyone is treated well and feels safe, that has always been my passion,” Lt. Col. Scott-Bond says.

“We’re here to help,” adds Holmes. “Whatever the needs of the community may be, we try to meet those needs. We are here for you.”