Quentin E. Miller was elected to a four-year term as Sheriff of Buncombe County in 2018 and sworn into office on December 3 of that year. Sheriff Miller was born and raised in Asheville and serves as the first African-American Sheriff of Buncombe County.

Meet the Sheriff — Buncombe County Sheriff's Office

Quentin holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Justice and graduated from the Administrative Officers Management Program at N.C. State.

Quentin Miller for Buncombe Sheriff

While stationed at Fort Bragg in 1985, Quentin met Army Specialist Karen Sconiers. They have been married for more than 30 years and enjoy spending time with their ten grandchildren. Quentin and Karen live in the Avery’s Creek community of Buncombe County and have fostered more than 100 children in their home since 2005.

Quentin Miller was born and raised in Asheville. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Justice and graduated from the Administrative Officers Management Program at N.C. State. He lives with his wife, Karen, in the Avery’s Creek community and has ten grandchildren.

Meet the Sheriff - Buncombe County Sheriff

From 1994 to 2018 he served with the Asheville Police Department and spent more than 20 years serving the community as a patrol officer, school resource officer, and supervisor.

Prior to his time with the APD, Sheriff Miller served 11 years in the U.S Army as a Military Policeman (MP) and completed two tours in Germany.

Quentin previously served with the Asheville Police Department as a patrol officer, school resource officer, and supervisor. He served as a military policeman in the U.S. Army for 11 years.

Quentin was elected sheriff of Buncombe County in 2018 for a four-year term.

Quentin is the current sheriff of Buncombe County. He was first elected in 2018.

2026 North Carolina General Election

I also indicated in the past that I would not comply with just an ICE “detainer” to hold undocumented immigrants taken into custody, however the passing of HB10 amended that compliance to involve the issuance of both a detainer and an administrative warrant in order to hold someone undocumented in custody for up to 48 hours. As much as I have constitutional concerns about holding someone who is able and willing to post bond and subsequently be released, I do not make the laws, I only enforce the laws.

The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) will not be partnering with ICE to help enforce federal immigration laws beyond following HB10 which is only after someone has committed a crime. BCSO deputies will not be arresting and detaining persons to solely investigate immigration status in the absence of probable cause of an independent crime, that is racially profiling and unconstitutional.

Buncombe County sheriff releases statement on Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at church and school campuses

CT: What needs to be improved to respond to an emergency of that magnitude?

QM: For enforcement, one thing that came out (of the storm) is communications. We went through a situation where we didn’t have any communication; the phones didn’t work. We found that things we’ve taken for granted for so long — being able to call home, or to reach out to a deputy — all those things became challenging.

That spoke to the importance of knowing your community. We now have taken a different approach. I’ve divided the county into districts. With the district concept, we get to know our neighbors better. You have a captain over (the district), the captain has detectives, deputies, school resource officers, civil processes that work in that area. It’s all one.

Tropical Storm Helene anniversary Q&A with Buncombe sheriff

CT: What’s your top priority when it comes to recovery, rebuilding, or preparing for the next natural disaster?

QM: I want us to do a better job of protecting our community, making sure we put information out when we know about a scam. We need to try to process that as quickly as possible, try to bring those people to justice, prosecute them if possible. That’s one of the things I want to do better.

“Buncombe County, NC (February 7, 2025) As the Sheriff, I am not in charge of operating the churches or schools within this community but I am elected to ensure the safety and security of ALL the residents in Buncombe county. WE are a community of WE and because I have deputies positioned in schools as School Resource Officers, my stance is clear and strong that immigration enforcement is not allowed on our school campuses unless forced through a valid court order.

I have repeatedly spoken out against cooperation with ICE, saying federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local officers and damages law enforcement’s trust within the immigrant community.

Our responsibility is far-reaching, and the need for more effective and professional training is critical. This includes Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) which equips our staff to deal with individuals in crisis or living with mental disabilities.

“Every law enforcement officer must be empowered with the necessary training to keep our staff and community safe. De-escalation is a proven tactic to make policing safer for the public and for officers. This element of a training program helps deputies assess potentially dangerous situations and minimize the risk of harm for everyone involved.” - Sheriff Quentin Miller

Accomplishments and Policy — Quentin Miller for Sheriff

Expansion of DWI Task Force

In 2020, thanks to a grant totaling more than $408,000 from the North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office was able to launch its own DWI Task Force.

This represents an increase of 3 Deputies under Sheriff Miller who are dedicated to preventing the loss of life in drunk driving accidents in Buncombe County. The Task Force has a total of 5 Deputies which includes a Sgt. supervising the unit.

Opposes entering a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

287G and ICE Detainers

Let me be absolutely clear on this – I will not sign an 287g agreement with ICE and I won’t waffle on that.

The fact that they can be detained without counsel, I disagree with that. The fact that they can be held indefinitely, I disagree with that.

Opposes entering a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that allows local officers to enforce federal immigration laws.

Limits cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and rejects immigration-status investigations without probable cause of another crime.

Implemented district-based policing, assigning captains, detectives, deputies, school resource officers, and civil-process staff to county areas.

Plans to improve public alerts and investigations of scams following natural disasters.

Limits immigration enforcement on school campuses unless required by a valid court order.

Supports de-escalation and crisis-intervention training for deputies to reduce harm to officers and the public.

As sheriff, expanded the impaired-driving task force to five deputies, including three additional deputies funded by a state grant.

- Limits cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and rejects immigration-status investigations without probable cause of another crime.
- Implemented district-based policing, assigning captains, detectives, deputies, school resource officers, and civil-process staff to county areas.
- Plans to improve public alerts and investigations of scams following natural disasters.
- Limits immigration enforcement on school campuses unless required by a valid court order.
- Supports de-escalation and crisis-intervention training for deputies to reduce harm to officers and the public.
- As sheriff, expanded the impaired-driving task force to five deputies, including three additional deputies funded by a state grant.

Public Safety

I have repeatedly spoken out against cooperation with ICE, saying federal immigration law is not the responsibility of local officers and damages law enforcement’s trust within the immigrant community. I also indicated in the past that I would not comply with just an ICE “detainer” to hold undocumented immigrants taken into custody, however the passing of HB10 amended that compliance to involve the issuance of both a detainer and an administrative warrant in order to hold someone undocumented in custody for up to 48 hours. As much as I have constitutional concerns about holding someone who is able and willing to post bond and subsequently be released, I do not make the laws, I only enforce the laws.

Working to Help Solve Our Opioid Crisis 

The opioid crisis is the biggest challenge facing Buncombe County. White or back, rich or poor, every demographic group is being impacted by the disease of opioid addiction and the huge amount of fentanyl we now see circulating in our community. I say disease because I believe we cannot arrest our way out of this problem. 

People suffering from a disease need treatment and help and I’m proud to say that the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office now has a comprehensive MAT drug treatment program in our Detention Facility. 

There are no easy answers to this crisis. It will take a community response to begin to tackle this and it will take years.

Said he has constitutional concerns about holding undocumented people eligible for release under House Bill 10's detainer and administrative-warrant procedures.

Said he has constitutional concerns about holding undocumented people eligible for release under North Carolina’s detainer and administrative-warrant procedures and said, “I do not make the laws, I only enforce [them].”

Implemented medication-assisted treatment in the detention facility and describes opioid addiction as a condition requiring treatment and help.

- Said he has constitutional concerns about holding undocumented people eligible for release under North Carolina’s detainer and administrative-warrant procedures and said, “I do not make the laws, I only enforce [them].”
- Implemented medication-assisted treatment in the detention facility and describes opioid addiction as a condition requiring treatment and help.

Jail Management

“I’m proud to have a dedicated and hard-working team working within our Detention Facility to help make a difference with the opioid crisis. We’ve tried to arrest our way out of the drug epidemic for decades and it hasn’t worked. There must be consequences for people’s actions, but part of our solution has to be providing people access to medication and treatment. We must offer people a chance to get themselves to a better place and programs like MAT are proven to reduce recidivism,” says Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller.

Ban on No-Knock Warrants 

“This ban on no-knock warrants is both an officer safety and public safety measure. Entering a residence or business without giving notification is a high-risk endeavor for our personnel and all involved, that level of risk is not warranted,” says Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin Miller.

The 21-page policy reads in part:

“Before entering, deputies must knock and give appropriate notice of their identity and purpose to the person in apparent control of the premises to be entered. After announcing their identity and purpose, and if the deputies believe that admittance is being denied or unreasonably delayed, the force necessary to complete the entry may be used.”

Medical Marijuana 

As Sheriff I expect that sometime while in office medical marijuana will become an option for pain treatment in North Carolina. I have been asked many times on the campaign trail about my positions on marijuana policies, I want to be absolutely clear on my position.

If people are suffering because of cancer or other medical conditions and can be helped by the use of marijuana after consulting with a doctor, I believe they should have access to this method of pain treatment.

It is important that people realize that the Sheriff does not write laws, but I can and will publicly advocate for medical marijuana.

Supports combining consequences for drug offenses with access to medication-assisted treatment to reduce repeat offenses.

Implemented a ban on no-knock warrants, citing risks to officers and the public.

Advocates for medical marijuana access for people with cancer or other medical conditions after consulting a doctor.

- Supports combining consequences for drug offenses with access to medication-assisted treatment to reduce repeat offenses.
- Implemented a ban on no-knock warrants, citing risks to officers and the public.
- Advocates for medical marijuana access for people with cancer or other medical conditions after consulting a doctor.

Criminal Justice

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Quentin Miller

- Limits immigration enforcement on school campuses unless required by a valid court order.
- Supports de-escalation and crisis-intervention training for deputies to reduce harm to officers and the public.
- As sheriff, expanded the impaired-driving task force to five deputies, including three additional deputies funded by a state grant.

- Implemented a ban on no-knock warrants, citing risks to officers and the public.
- Advocates for medical marijuana access for people with cancer or other medical conditions after consulting a doctor.

Quentin Miller is from Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from Asheville High School. He holds an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Justice and graduated from the Administrative Officers Management Program at North Carolina State University. He and his wife, Karen, live in the Avery's Creek community of Buncombe County and have ten grandchildren.

Sheriff Quentin Miller seeks third term in office, will face challenger ...

Quentin is currently the Buncombe County Sheriff. He is currently serving his third term.

Sheriff releases statement on ICE raids on Buncombe Co. church ...

As Sheriff, implemented a policy of not honoring ICE Detainers without a valid warrant.

For Candidate Quentin Miller on Issue jail-management:  
Implemented a Duty to Intervene Policy and banned No-Knock Warrants.

Supports the launch of a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Drug Treatment Program at the jail.

For Candidate Quentin Miller on Issue jail-management: Supports granting pay raises for deputies based on their training and education.

For Candidate Quentin Miller on Issue jail-management: Supports adding dash cams to patrol vehicles.

Supports the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) Program in Buncombe County as part of addressing substance abuse issues.

Buket Urgen

Gary Parris

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 