Kevin Chaney, a former major in the Camden County Sheriff’s Office, won the Republican primary election Tuesday night over County Commissioner Trevor Readdick
Chaney received 72% of votes, while Readdick received 28%.
Chaney will go on to face incumbent Sheriff Jim Proctor, an independent, in the November general election.
Chaney and Readdick entered the usually staid sheriff’s race because of multiple scandals and investigations that rocked the agency. Since November 2022 state police have charged six Camden deputies and jailors for violent incidents. The county’s insurer declined to renew its policy last summer due to the excessive use-of-force incidents and frequently wrecked police cruisers. The insurer renegotiated more expensive rates for the county amid six figure payouts to settle lawsuits.
Proctor says he has worked to increase training for jailors and deputies, while securing much-needed pay raises.
