Black History Month aside, Bryant is an everyman man

Becky Holland

AMERICUS — Colonel Eric D. Bryant, Chief Deputy of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Department, saunters into his office with an outstretched hand, flashing a bright smile, and apology for being early.

Catching his visitor off guard, Bryant gestures toward a chair in front of his large desk in the well naturally lit room, and says, sincerely, like a prized fighter fixing to step in the ring, “Let’s do this.”

Eric D. Bryant, born and raised in Americus, the father of one year old Eric, son of Shirley and Mack Polk, Sr., and grandson of Nathelma Bryant, declares he has wanted to be in law enforcement since, “I can’t even remember when. I have always wanted to do this.”

His gaze becomes penetrating, but the grin stays sincere, “I really do like the idea of helping people.”

Thinking back to influences in his life, besides his parents and family, the 33 year old Bryant recalls watching the television cop shows, Hunter , starring Fred Dryer, which ran from 1984 to 1991, and focused on the life of Sgt. Rick Hunter, a homicide detective from LA, and T.J. Hooker, starring William Shatner, and thinking, “I really wanted to be Hooker and Hunter.”

Though most of his life has been spent in Americus, Bryant did serve over 8 years in the U.S. Marine Corps before he came back home in 1995, and began his career in Sumter County Law Enforcement as a jailer under then Sheriff Randy Howard.

In the late 1990s, the economic situation forced Bryant to make a career change for a short time, where he served as Transportation Director for the Sumter County School System. During this time, Bryant kept up with his law enforcement training and certification, and served part time with the department, and other municipalities.

“Then one day, a glorious day in October 2004, a young man came in and told me he was running for Sheriff and he wanted me to come work for him,” Bryant said.

And that young man was current Sheriff of Sumter County, Pete Smith. “He asked me to be the Chief Deputy, and I was so exited to get back into it, and just considered this to be a blessing, so I committed to him.”

Though Bryant doesn’t see himself as a prominent citizen in Sumter County, to him, he is just Eric Bryant, he does realize the importance of being African American and in such a leadership role.

“I don’t serve just African Americans, we serve everyone. I was nervous, you know when I first came on board. I really didn’t know how the citizens of Sumter County would react to someone who was my age, 29, in that role. I never looked at it in a racial sense.”

Bryant thought, “My great grandmother, Bessie Bryant, spent a lot of time with me and encouraged me over and over to do something right with my life. She would talk over things with me, and you know, until I got into the work force, I really didn’t see it, but it is like this, she taught me about treating others like you want to be treated.”

And to Bryant, that is a lesson that all races should learn and apply in daily life. “I don’t see colors, really I don’t. I don’t think we should use labels with people.”

“Seeing as this article is for Black History Month, I guess we could say that I would like for young African Americans, especially young males, to see that they can do this too. They can achieve what they want.”

Bryant reflected on African American influences on his own life, and besides his parents, he credits his cousin, Thomas Wakefield, Sr., with being a guiding inspiration for him. “He was like the family handyman. Whatever anyone needed, plumbing, electrical, whatever, he was there, and so I worked with him, and besides being compensated, with him, I learned some skills. He taught me discipline, and that we had a job to do, so there was no sleeping on Saturdays, and he taught me how to save.”

Leaning back in his chair, Bryant shared the Eric Bryant mantra/perspective on relationships, people and life in general. “So many times, we tended to read what we want to about people before we get to know them. When all we really need to do is listen and hear what people have to say.”

Bryant said, “From when I first started in law enforcement until today, I have so much more and realize there is a stronger need for law enforcement, especially now, and we do more than serving and protecting, we try to provide education for people.”

Pausing, Bryant said, “We do parental assistance. I had a lady bring her four year old son in to see me. She didn’t want him to be afraid of me, but she wanted me to realize that there are consequences for bad behavior.”

Shaking his head, Bryant said, “It is not all good, and there are frustrating days, but you have to overcome that. You be honest with people, and just like I said, treat everyone the same, and treat them like you want to be treated, and I think, you can’t go wrong with that.”

Bryant is not sure what his future holds, but he knows he would like to stay in law enforcement. As for going for the next level, Bryant confidently said, “The only way I would even consider that is if my Sheriff(Smith) came to me and said he was retiring and was getting out of law enforcement totally, and then and only then would I even think about it.”

“We’re a family here. We get along. We work as a team,” said Bryant.

Looking outside the inner window of his office to where Sheriff Pete Smith was sitting at a table with two other law enforcement officials, Bryant smirked, “But you know, he is not ever going to retire.”

“And that is fine with me.”

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