Hello, my name is Donald Edwards and I am the Democratic Candidate running for Sampson County Sheriff.

 

I am a lifelong resident of Sampson County and a retired police chief with a proven record of public service built on integrity, accountability, and community engagement. My core values are service, integrity, and respect guided by faith and family. Throughout my career, I worked to ensure public safety while building strong, respectful relationships between law enforcement and the communities we serve.

I am married to my wife, Barbara Byrd Edwards, and together we have two grown children, Allyson Hyde and DeeAnna Edwards, both graduates of Union schools. Allyson and her husband, Tim Hyde, have blessed us with three cherished grandchildren, ages eight, three, and five months, who keep our family grounded in the future of this community.

I am a 1990 graduate of Midway High School and attended Sampson Community College until 1992, when I completed Basic Law Enforcement Training and began my law enforcement career. I was sworn in with the Clinton Police Department in February 1993 and proudly served for more than 28 years. During that time, I held a variety of roles including patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement, and accreditation management, earning promotions that ultimately led to my appointment as Chief of Police in 2017.

Committed to lifelong learning, I returned to higher education in the mid-2000s, earning both an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Organizational Development from the University of Mount Olive, graduating summa cum laude. I have also completed leadership development programs at North Carolina State University (AOMP) and the University of North Carolina’s Fellows Program.

As chief, my leadership focused on professional service, transparency, and respect. Under my tenure, the department experienced consistent reductions in crime and achieved some of the lowest crime rates in over a decade. Each year, we increased felony drug arrests and firearm seizures while expanding community-based initiatives. I led the department to become the first agency in North Carolina to complete the IACP’s One Mind Campaign for mental health awareness—placing us among the first ten agencies nationwide to do so. We increased Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training from less than 10% to 100% prior to my retirement, all while significantly expanding community engagement efforts.

Public service runs deep in my family. My father, Sharon Edwards, served as Chief of Police in Roseboro, and my brother Kenneth Edwards began his career as a Sampson County deputy before becoming Chief of Police in Benson. My mother, Wilma Edwards, dedicated many years of service as the pastor’s secretary at Central Baptist Church. They have all since passed away. However, I am grateful to still have my brother, Kevin Edwards alongside me. He served in the North Carolina National Guard in Afghanistan and now works as a commercial truck driver.

 
I am a service-driven leader respectfully seeking your support as I continue my commitment to Sampson County. I would be honored to serve our community as your Sheriff and to work alongside our diverse communities in advancing public safety, fairness, and community well-being.

Thank you!
Donald Edwards