Biography

As Chief Deputy of the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Reginald B. Scandrett was responsible for managing all of the agency’s law enforcement operations, which included the DeKalb County Jail Division, Field Division, Court Division, Training Division, and Reserves Division. He retired from the position in June 2019.

Prior to his promotion in August, 2014, Former Chief Deputy Scandrett was Jail Division Commander for four years, heading the state’s largest adult pre-trial detention facility. The 3,800-bed capacity jail houses an average 2,200 persons daily and processes more than 40,000 detainees each year. A career law enforcement officer, Former Chief Scandrett joined the Sheriff’s Office in 1990 as a Detention Officer and was promoted to positions of increasing responsibility over the past 25 years.

During his tenure with the agency, Former Chief Scandrett instituted a number of practices that remain integral to the agency’s operations today. Among them are the annual multi-jurisdictional Operation Safe Streets Task Force (now known as Operation Safe DeKalb), and the Gang Task Force Unit.

Former Chief Deputy Scandrett graduated magna cum laude from St. Leo University with a degree in Criminal Justice.  He is also a graduate of the Mercer University Public Safety Leadership Institute and the U.S. Department of Justice F.B.I. Defensive Tactics Instructor School.  

Former Chief Deputy Scandrett is certified in Basic Law Enforcement and jail management and supervision, as well as specialized tactical and operational disciplines including Special Weapons and Tactics operations (SWAT), SWAT Command, SWAT Hostage Rescue; and In-Custody Death Investigation, among others. He is a Georgia P.O.S.T. certified general instructor and an instructor in Tasertron Electric Law Enforcement Technology, and PPCT Defensive Tactics, Collapsible Baton, and Impact Weapons.

Reginald Scandrett is founder of the Metro Atlanta Chief Jailors Group. In 1994, he received the Georgia Jail Association Outstanding Dedicated Service Award. A graduate of the Leadership DeKalb Class of 2014, he was elected in 2016 as the Georgia Chapter Vice President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. Former Chief Deputy Scandrett also created the first-ever Metro Atlanta Public Safety Flag Football League.  Its purpose is to facilitate positive stress relief for public safety officials while establishing a comradery among various metropolitan area agencies. League members represented the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Atlanta Fire Department, Atlanta Corrections Department, DeKalb Police Department, Henry County Police Department, Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office. Funds raised from league games benefit The Gold Shield Foundation, a non-profit providing emergency financial support for public safety personnel.

A community-oriented 27-year resident of Henry County, Reginald Scandrett is married to Deidree’, his high school sweetheart.  Together they have two sons and two daughters. Scandrett coached in the Henry County Youth Association Football League for eight years and he volunteered for four years with the Woodland High School Football Boosters and choral clubs. Currently, he is the president of the Summit at Scarborough Homeowners Association.