Billy Bozarth has formally announced his candidacy for Hancock County Sheriff, bringing with him a deep family legacy in law enforcement and a commitment to preserving the values that make the county a special place to live.
Bozarth, 51, is seeking the Republican nomination. He said his decision to run stems from both a lifelong desire to serve in the role and the recent announcement that current Sheriff Dale Bozarth plans to retire.
“I’ve always aspired to serve in the role of Hancock County Sheriff,” Bozarth said. “When I learned that Dale planned to retire, I saw an opportunity to continue the legacy of excellence in this office. For me, this is not just a career, it’s a calling.”
Bozarth was born and raised in Hancock County and has maintained ties to the area throughout his life. Though he spent nearly two decades working in the Gulf region of Louisiana and Texas, Bozarth spent 6 months in Hancock County in 2023, 7.5 months in 2024, and resided full time in 2025.
His family’s connection to local law enforcement runs deep. He said his mother served as chief deputy for 25 years, his father was a deputy for more than a decade, and three of his cousins held the sheriff’s office consecutively for 45 years. Additionally, his great-grandfather, Hall Young, served one term as Hancock County Sheriff in the early 1940s, which was the term limit at that time.
“This legacy means a great deal to me, and I am committed to honoring it by keeping our county safe, strong, and united,” he said. “Integrity has always been the cornerstone of my family. We were taught to say what we do and do what we say.”
Bozarth’s professional background includes engineering, design, and construction, along with leadership roles in managing teams and overseeing complex, multi-trade projects. He led electrical and instrumentation departments for various engineering and design firms.
“These roles taught and honed my skill set on handling critical-level situations, maintaining safety, working within budgets, and leading with integrity,” he said.
If elected, Bozarth said his priorities would include increasing the number of deputies on shift to ensure no officer is working alone and remaining on call himself if needed.
“There’s never going to be a person on shift by themselves,” he said.
He also hopes to implement community-based crime prevention programs, such as neighborhood watch groups and expanded use of social media and surveillance tools. He plans to work on rehabilitation efforts for individuals struggling with addiction, using ideas he saw successfully implemented in other states.
Bozarth also wants to expand the role of deputies in schools, moving beyond traditional DARE programs and building relationships with students in positive settings.
“I want kids to interact with deputies in safe, normal situations and feel known rather than watched,” he said. “They’re more likely to respect the law, ask for help if they need it, avoid bad decisions, and maybe even consider public service themselves.”
Bozarth said his campaign is about more than policy, saying it’s about preserving the way of life that defines Hancock County.
“Whether you’ve lived here for 10 years or 50+, we all agree that Hancock County is a great place to live and raise a family,” he said. “It’s a community of hardworking people who genuinely care for one another. My commitment is to protect and preserve the heritage of Hancock County while ensuring that our law enforcement remains a strong, accountable, and responsive presence in the community.”
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