Tate County Constable Ben Bryok seeks voters supports in the upcoming election Tuesday, Nov. 8. Bryok was officially elected to the position November last year where he defeated appointed Constable Derrick Richardson who held the seat following the retirement of Mike Jones.
Born at Sardis Hospital, Bryok has lived in Tate County all his life. He graduated from Independence High School in 2003.
Bryok said he always knew he wanted to go into public service.
“I wanted to get into public service when I graduated high school but had to be 21. I applied at around age of 21 but never got an opportunity until I applied again at age 30,” said Bryok. He attended Mississippi Law Enforcement Training Academy for 12 weeks. After graduating, Bryok has spent seven years and eight months in law enforcement.
“My first year and six months I spent working as a Jail Officer for Tate County. The last six years I’ve worked patrol. Although I’ve chosen not to apply for a detective position I’ve completed several case files on felony narcotics arrest, felony DUI arrest and charges for felon in possession of a firearm due making the arrest on patrol. I’ve presented the cases in grand jury and testified in the lower courts of Justice Court and in Circuit Court,” said Bryok.
Bryok said he is seeking re-election to better serve Tate Countians.
“I’m running from re-election because I believe the citizens need a constable that will continue to not only attend Justice court and serve all the papers filed in Justice court as needed but also be proactive in the county. Serving warrants, patrolling, making traffic stops, getting drugs off the street, being seen to deter crime, assisting other agencies as needed because we’re all shorthanded in law enforcement, continuing to protect and serve our citizens. Being most of the expense comes from the Constable not the taxpayers a lot of Constables choose not to do a lot of the work that we can do because of the expense. All Constables take an Oath to help preserve the peace and execute criminal law in the County and we should all do so if we run for the position and take the Oath,” said Bryok.
Bryok said he takes his position very seriously.
“I take being the Constable very personal and honored to have it. From most of the citizens trusted me with the position. I’ve taken that and treated everybody as fair as I could just as I have and will continue to do as Deputy. I’ve tried to be there for everybody when the phone rings and helped in any way that I could. Majority of my time is dedicated to the citizens in the county between being your Post 2 Constable, working for Tate County Sheriff’s Office, and volunteering in the county. I enjoy making a difference here at home in Tate County and I take it personal to do everything I can do to keep our county safe, and drug free,” he said.
Bryok said he has continued to be active in the community.
“I’ll continue to improve the lives here in Tate County by continuing to protect and serve the citizens, fight the drug traffic that comes through and that’s in our county and by being available as much as possible,” he said.
Bryok is married to Tabitha Bryok, a native of Marion, Arkansas. The couple have five children: Chloe Way, 23, graduated Independence High School; Faith Shankle, 21, graduated Marshal Academy and graduated Northwest Mississippi Community College; Kevin Bryok, 18, a senior at Independence High School; Taylor Shankle, 17, who attends Lafayette High School; and Kyle Bryok, 14, who attends Magnolia Heights School.
“My family worries about my safety but they know I love my job. They know I wouldn’t want to work anywhere else but here at home. They are very proud of my accomplishments and support me every day. I had a goal when I got hired as a jail officer to become a deputy. While working as Deputy it was a goal of mine to learn everything I could and do the best job that I could and take that and possible run for Sheriff one day. Working as your Constable it gives me more training and more experience that if one day if it’s Gods will and I decide to run for Sheriff one day that I’ll have the training and experience to better serve the citizens of Tate County. My family knows my goals and they support me and they are very proud of me,” said Bryok.
