The Chief Deputy

W. Allen Wigington is a native of Pickens County, Georgia. He began work with the Pickens County Government as the Training Officer for the newly created 911 Emergency Communications Center in 1995.

After serving for a year in that capacity he transferred to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff and then a Criminal Investigator. Allen handled Crimes Against Children and general investigations.. While working in Criminal Investigations he was promoted to the rank of Detective Sergeant.
During a reorganization phase at the Sheriff’s Office, Allen was selected to be the Division Commander for the newly formed Administrative Services Division. As a Lieutenant and then Captain he oversaw the day to day operations that deal with personnel matters, training, public information, records, information technology, public relations, purchasing and Court Services. In August of 2004, Allen was promoted to Major where he served as the Commander of the Headquarters Bureau and oversaw  the Adult Detention Center, the Court Services Unit, the Environmental Enforcement Unit and the Administrative Services Division. During 2004, Allen was appointed to the Pickens County Jail Advisory Board by the County Commissioner and while serving on the Board he helped to plan and design the new Pickens County Jail. In May of 2006 he was again promoted to the rank of Chief Deputy Sheriff and as Chief he oversees the supervision and senior management of the entire Sheriff’s Office.

In 1999 Allen was asked to take a position as the interim Police Chief (part-time) for the City of Nelson, Georgia. He was tasked with up-starting the Police Department from the ground up. He “retired” at the end of June 2004 after serving almost five years and growing the department into two full time positions.

Allen’s Public Safety training includes graduation from the State of Georgia Police Academy, Appalachian Technical College (Emergency Medical Technician), State of Georgia Law Enforcement Chief Executive Certification, State of Georgia Senior Deputy Sheriff Certification, Certified Fire/Arson Investigator, Basic Jail Officer Certification, Forensic Interview Training, State of Georgia Medical Examiner Investigator / Coroner Certification, State of Georgia POST Council Senior Instructor Certification. Allen’s training hours total more than 2,600 in his 11 year career. Allen is an American Red Cross Community Safety, First Aid and CPR Instructor. Allen has conducted domestic violence and executive level training for the Georgia Sheriffs’ Elect Academy, the Missouri Sheriff’s Academy, the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in six (6) states. He has also served in Washington, DC as a peer reviewer for the United States Department of Justice Violence Against Women grant Programs on several occasions. Allen was selected and made a presentation to the National Sheriff’s Association Conference on Jail Planning at the 2006 Annual Convention in Orlando Florida.

Allen has a strong family tie to law enforcement. His grandfather, Bill Wigington served as the Chief of Police for the City of Jasper and his great-great grandfather, Jim Poole served as Sheriff of Pickens County and then as a State Revenue Agent.

In his spare time Allen serves as a Past President of the Jasper Lions Club and as a Past President of the State of Georgia 4-H Leaders Association. He currently serves as a member of the Georgia Marble Festival Committee and as a member of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Georgia Chapter of the American Red Cross. Allen is married to Rosemary Taudte Wigington of Jasper and they are the parents of Kate and Jack.