Long-time WDUN show host and news anchor Derreck Booth will take a new position with the Hall County Sheriff's Office next week.
Booth will be the Civilian Public Information Officer, the first role of its kind in the department, serving alongside current law enforcement Public Information Officer Lt. Scott Ware.
“One of our goals is to continually improve the way we communicate and interact with the public,” Sheriff Gerald Couch stated. “We think adding a civilian counterpart to work with Lt. Ware will greatly enhance our effectiveness in that regard. Derreck brings with him a wealth of experience in public communications, having worked as a broadcast journalist for nearly 20 years, and his familiarity and knowledge of the local community gives him a firm grasp on the issues we face as a department. We’ve always had a great working relationship with Derreck and WDUN, and we’re pleased to welcome him aboard as part of our team.”
Booth began his radio career at the Northwest Missouri State University, later serving in the WDUN news department when he moved to Georgia in 1996. After a hiatus in 2010, he returned to WDUN in 2012 and has served as Assistant News Director and Afternoon News Wrap show host.
“While we hate to lose Derreck as a member of the WDUN news team, we're glad to know he'll be working with a great group of men and women at the Hall County Sheriff's Office," said B.J. Williams, Director of News Operations for Jacobs Media. "We've always had a good rapport with HCSO and we know our working relationship will be strengthened with Derreck as the new Civilian Public Information Officer. With his history as a local and regional journalist, he'll be a solid addition to the Sheriff's Office!"
Booth lives in Gainesville with his wife, three children and two dogs.
