Prince George’s County, MD Sheriff John D. B. Carr is gearing up for a second term, officially launching his reelection campaign with momentum, purpose, and unfinished business ahead. The longtime law enforcement leader made the announcement earlier this month on December 4th, joined by County Executive Aisha Braveboy, whose special appearance and endorsement recognize the meaningful progress Sheriff Carr has achieved within the community. As the campaign moves forward, Carr has tapped experienced campaign manager Sean Michael Wilson, owner of Elevate by SMW and Director of Public Relations for Global United Fellowship, to lead his campaign, bringing strategic leadership and seasoned expertise to the campaign.
Carr has built a career defined by service, accountability, and community-centered public safety. Carr brings more than two decades of law enforcement experience, according to the county’s sheriff website, which includes serving in every rank and being assigned to nearly every post within the Office of the Sheriff. He also oversees commanding the Specialized Services Team, overseeing close to 400 sworn and civilian support staff employees, and serving in the Internal Affairs Division.
His wealth of experience has given him a comprehensive understanding of both frontline law enforcement and organizational oversight. The Prince George’s County native is looking to continue that mission, as he submitted his bid for reelection for a second term earlier this month.
Under his leadership, the Office of the Sheriff evolves to meet the community’s changing needs while upholding its core mission of public safety and service. Sheriff Carr has introduced several innovative initiatives since taking office, including the county’s first Sheriff’s Citizens Academy, aimed at educating residents about the Sheriff’s Office and promoting open dialogue. He prioritizes mental health services, executing ways to connect citizens in a crisis to appropriate care and long-term support rather than criminalizing them.
“We understand the short fix—taking someone to the hospital,” Sheriff Carr explained to the Exclusive Press (EP). “But what happens after they’re released? What about the long-term care and wraparound services? That’s where we need to focus.”
To end that, he noted that he has worked closely with nonprofit organizations and county agencies to create sustainable partnerships that address mental health needs beyond emergency response.
Another major focus of his administration is combating domestic violence. Sheriff Carr has expanded the Sheriff’s Office Domestic Violence Unit and reintroduced the handling of those 911 calls. The enhanced approach ensures continuity of care from the initial emergency call through court proceedings and post-adjudication counseling by working in collaboration with the Family Justice Center, the Prince George’s County Police Department, and municipal partners, he explained.
Community outreach remains a cornerstone of Sheriff Carr’s work. He has launched programs serving both seniors and youth. The “Silver Circle” for residents ages 55 and older connects seniors with valuable resources. It also brings organizations together, such as the fire department, financial institutions, and nonprofit agencies, to keep older residents informed and engaged while also giving them a voice in community concerns.
Highlights of Prince George’s County Office of the Sheriff supporting the Bill Milligan Food Basket Program; Courtesy of Facebook/Prince George’s County, Office of the Sheriff
For the youth, Sheriff Carr has established free summer camps through a partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools, offering free sports involvement – flag football and soccer across the north and south regions of the county.
For the county’s youth, Sheriff Carr has established free summer camps through a partnership with Prince George’s County Public Schools, offering mentoring services, educational workshops, field trips, and recreational programming (flag football and soccer) across both the northern and southern regions of Prince George’s County. He also supports youth development through the Sheriff’s Saturday Academy, a program that incentivizes participation while strengthening relationships between parents and youth by addressing social issues, cultivating future leaders, advanced education through workshops, promoting transparency, and fostering mutual understanding.
“What we’re seeing is that many parents don’t know how to relate to or deal with the issues kids are facing today,” Sheriff Carr said. “We’re building up the youth, but we’re also building up the parents.”
His record of success is clearly reflected in the data. Under Sheriff Carr’s leadership, working in collaboration with the Police Department, Prince George’s County has experienced a significant reduction in violent crime.
According to data released in December 2025, murders are down 40 percent, robberies down 48 percent, carjackings down 55 percent, sex offenses down 23 percent, domestic violence down 2 percent, overall violent crime down 19 percent, and total crime down 16 percent—resulting in 4,755 fewer victims.
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Officials attribute these improvements to increased staffing, strengthened partnerships, and proactive initiatives, including the implementation of a 24/7 hotline for potential abusers aimed at curbing domestic violence and supporting earlier intervention, as reported by FOX 5 DC.
Innovation, according to Sheriff Carr, is essential to effective leadership, particularly for elected officials in public safety roles. Unlike police chiefs, who are appointed, sheriffs are directly elected by the people, making accountability to the community paramount.
“You can’t rely on how law enforcement has always done things,” he noted. “You have to be creative, innovative, and willing to solve problems differently to meet today’s challenges.”
Under his term, the Sheriff’s Office has expanded public access to information through its website to provide transparency, including active warrant database search, sheriff sales, peace/protective order search, civil case inquiry, and available resources. He also established a Professional Accountability Bureau, giving citizens a direct avenue to raise concerns and ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
Sheriff John D.B. Carr in action servicing the Prince George’s County, Maryland community; Courtesy of Facebook/Prince George’s County, Office of the Sheriff
Beyond his professional role, the University of Maryland at College Park graduate is a member of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the NAACP, and the National Tactical Officers Association. Carr also hosts a podcast called Behind the Badge with Sheriff Carr, which airs on Prince George’s Community Television (PGCTV).
A win in the sheriff’s race will help him reinforce his belief that effective public safety begins with trust and familiarity between law enforcement and the people they serve, which are the guiding principles he abides by, along with service, community engagement, and transparency.
When asked how he defined “forward momentum,” Sheriff Carr described it as a commitment to continuous improvement.
“It means always looking at an issue and moving toward a positive solution,” he said. “You listen, you accept constructive criticism, and you pivot when something isn’t working. Forward momentum is about constantly striving to better meet the needs of our citizens.”
Sheriff John D. B. Carr remains focused on serving the people of Prince George’s County – building the momentum with integrity, compassion, and a forward-looking vision for public safety, guided by the principle of “keeping his word and continuing the work.”
