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History in the Making PETTWAY SERVES AS JEFFERSON COUNTY’S FIRST BLACK SHERIFF by Emma Owen When Mark Pettway became Jefferson County’s first Black Sheriff in 2018, he said he had a goal of creating positive change for the very community he was raised in.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARK PETTWAY
Growing up in Smithfield, Pettway said negative experiences with officers inspired him to become an officer himself. He said he wanted to change the system through his own actions.
“I reached out and I started with law enforcement as a correctional officer, and I said, no, this is not where the change is going to be at, then I became police officer,” Pettway said. “I felt more of an opportunity to change and became part of the community when I worked as a police officer in Fairfield. I really loved it, the community loved me, I loved the community and the kids loved me.” Pettway said diversity is important among first responders. He said he remembers a time, not so long ago, when this wasn’t possible. “We’ve gotten a chance now to level the playing field- to be equal, and to have opportunities to become police chiefs and sheriffs,” Pettway said. “The opportunity has been afforded to us and it’s important that we do a good job while we’re in these positions.” According to datausa.com, just over
