Two of the area’s sheriffs and a former Congressman who long represented Orange County are among the latest North Carolinians recognized with a statewide award.

The North Carolina Attorney General’s office shared its annual Dogwood Award winners last week, which are granted to people working to “improve the health, safety, and well-being of their fellow North Carolinians.” Among the Triangle region recipients were Chatham County Sheriff Mike Roberson, Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead and former U.S. Congressman and Chapel Hill resident David Price.

Roberson has served as the Chatham County sheriff since being appointed in 2016, while Birkhead was first elected in 2018. Each have been involved in statewide leadership positions during their tenures, with Roberson serving as the president of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association and Birkhead contributing to the state’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice. Attorney General Josh Stein complimented both men in a press release about the award, saying he appreciated each of their leadership, law enforcement work and cooperation with his office.

“The people of Chatham County are better off because of Sheriff Roberson’s leadership,” said Stein. “He has been a strong partner in several of my office’s initiatives to help make North Carolinians safer, including our work to attract and keep public-spirited law enforcement officers.”

“I have known Sheriff Birkhead for years,” the attorney general added, “and have had a front-row view into how much he cares about protecting the people of Durham County. I am grateful for his work to help strengthen the law enforcement profession and deliver justice to survivors of sexual assault.”

“I am honored to receive the Dogwood Award and proud to stand alongside many dedicated North Carolinians who are working to make our communities safer and stronger,” Sheriff Roberson said in the release. “This recognition reflects the collective efforts of the men and women at the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office and our shared commitment to service.”

“As the sheriff of Durham County, I often say that everything we do is designed to save lives – whether inside the jail or across our communities,” said Sheriff Birkhead. “This is my life’s work. I am both humbled and honored to have those efforts recognized as a recipient of Attorney General Josh Stein’s Dogwood Award.”

Price, meanwhile, served more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives as the legislator of North Carolina’s fourth congressional district, which often covered Orange and Durham counties. A longtime educator in addition to his work as a Congressman, he retired from public office in 2023.

“David Price has devoted decades of life his to public service for North Carolina,” said Stein. “He fought for public education, better infrastructure, affordable housing, and protections for our most vulnerable people. His federal budget expertise made a huge impact on the people of North Carolina.”

Other recipients from central North Carolina of a 2024 Dogwood Award include: Vance County Sheriff Curtis Brame; SBI Agent Kevin Roughton; Johnston County District Attorney Susan Doyle; Durham County re-entry council coordinator Ontario Joyner; Lars Paul of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition; Durham Public Schools bus driver Deana Washington; and N.C. State student and the North Carolina Weather Authority’s Ethan Clark.

Stein’s office created the Dogwood Awards in 2017. To view past recipients and more recipients from 2024, visit the Attorney General’s office’s website.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
Local U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee Boycotts Trump's Congressional Address, Citing President's Lies
Orange, Durham and Chatham County's U.S. Rep. Valerie Foushee did not attend President Donald Trump's address to Congress Tuesday evening.
Bill Defining Antisemitism in North Carolina Signed by Governor
Written by THE ASSOCIATED PRESS North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper on Monday signed legislation that places an official definition of antisemitism into state law, which supporters say could help law enforcement determine whether someone should be charged under current hate crime prohibitions based on race, religion or nationality. The measure came to Cooper’s desk after the Senate […]
'Safer, Stronger, and Healthier': Orange County Trio Wins Dogwood Award
Three local residents earned recognition this week for their efforts to promote women's health and fairness and equity in criminal justice.
Beasley Touts Sheriff Support, Opposes ‘Defund the Police’
Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM North Carolina U.S. Senate candidate Cheri Beasley pitched herself Monday as a bridge between law enforcement and the Democratic party, appealing to moderate voters in one of the nation’s most competitive races for a seat in the narrowly divided chamber. Joined by more than a dozen current and former law enforcement […]
'We Are Part of the Problem': Orange County Sheriff Speaks on Systemic Racism
As the Black Lives Matter movement continues to spur protests and discussion, there is a call for structural change and reform on a national and local level. 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck spoke with Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood to hear his thoughts on systematic racism in law enforcement and how we can effectively ‘do […]
Orange County Sheriff Talks COVID, Confusing Orders and Pandemic Politics
Last week, Orange County saw over 100 new coronavirus cases, pushing the total number to nearly 750 cases. On Friday, North Carolina recorded over 2,000 new cases in a single day for the first time since the pandemic began. In light of this, 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck spoke with Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood to […]
Immigration Bill Focusing on Sheriffs gets Legislative OK
North Carolina Republicans have given final legislative approval to a bill requiring all sheriffs to comply with requests by federal immigration agents to jail inmates they believe are in the country unlawfully. The House voted 62-53 on Tuesday to accept Senate changes to the measure, which responds to a handful of dissenting sheriffs refusing to […]
Annual Sheriff Conference Focuses on Leadership Within the Community
Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood was a part of the 94th Annual Sheriff Training Conference last week. Sheriffs from across North Carolina gather annually to share their ideas and processes with one another, to learn together and train on new tactics. The conference focused on building leadership within each community and standing strong together in […]
Rep. Allen Buansi Shares Details on Bill for Millionaire Tax to Fund Public Schools
The District 56 representative joined 97.9 The Hill to discuss the bill he's co-sponsoring to explore new ways for funding public schools.
On the Porch: Graig Meyer - NC Justice Center
This Week: Graig Meyer is the Executive Director of the NC Justice Center where he will continue to "prioritize decisions and policies that make our state safer, healthier, more fair, and more prosperous". Meyer brings more than a decade of leadership in the North Carolina General Assembly, where he served in the House of Representatives beginning in 2013 and most recently in the State Senate representing Orange, Person, and Caswell Counties. Throughout his legislative career, Meyer championed strong public education, access to health care, economic opportunity for working families, and policies that strengthen communities across the state. Before entering public office, Graig spent sixteen years working in North Carolina’s public schools. A trained social worker and longtime public-school advocate, Graig has focused his public service on helping families connect to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. 
›