Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood was recently elected as the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association’s First Vice President.

Sheriffs from across North Carolina gathered in July in Carteret County for their 99th annual business conference. While there, they elected New Hanover Sheriff Ed McMahon as President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association and Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood as First Vice President.

The business conference is held each year to allow sheriffs from across the state to learn from each other’s experiences.

“North Carolina sheriffs have a complex role as constitutional officers leading law enforcement efforts within our respective counties. Our duties often require that we be available to personnel and to the public continuously,” said Blackwood. “The conference allows us the opportunity to step back, consult with each other on common issues, concentrate on specialized training, and adapt to the changes and challenges inherent in our service to our communities.”

Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood is now the First Vice President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association. (Photo via the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.)

Hosted by Carteret County Sheriff Asa B. Buck III and his staff, the conference also provided sheriffs and other law enforcement leaders with important legal updates, an opportunity to learn about the state budget, and updates about recent actions of the 2021 General Assembly.

“Sheriffs in every county of North Carolina are facing tremendous challenges,” said Blackwood. “We are responsible for the maintenance and operation of local jails; recruiting, training, and maintaining talented personnel; responding to calls for service; tracking sex offenders; investigating crime; serving civil papers; issuing weapons permits; and providing security for the courts. This conference allows us to learn from each other and from subject-matter experts to improve the safety and security of our communities.”

One of Blackwood’s initial duties as vice president will be to serve as the host of the upcoming North Carolina Sheriff’s Association’s inaugural Jail Administrators Institute of Leadership. That event begins August 15 at the Rizzo Center in Chapel Hill.

 

Lead photo via Orange County Sheriff’s Office. 

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