When Deputy Matt Handley was trying to decide what he wanted to do with his life, he struggled between becoming a professional bodybuilder and playing in the NFL.
Handley was hindered in the bodybuilding profession by not having big muscles, and football scouts never looked at him because…well..he never played football. So for the past four years, Handley has been serving and protecting the citizens of Walker County at the Walker County Sheriff’s Office.
He began his career in the Walker County Jail as a Corrections Deputy, working for two years before deciding to become part of the Patrol Division. Handley’s adjusted well to patrol, and he attributes most of that to working with inmates in the jail.
“Whether you’re working in the jail or the road, you’re usually dealing with the same group of folks. Working in the jail allowed me to learn about them, and for them to learn about me. It’s a huge help when I’m encountering someone on the street that I used to see daily and have built a relationship with.”
Handley is satisfied right where he is, but he says that eventually his goal is to become part of the Narcotics Division.
“I feel like I can contribute more to the community when I confiscate drugs off the streets. With two little girls at home, I don’t want that stuff anywhere around. I don’t want someone that’s high or intoxicated getting behind the wheel of a car and meeting my family on the road.”
When asked how long Deputy Handley sees himself with the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, his reply is simple.
“I’ll be here until I retire.”
