Sheriff Edward J. McMahon | New Hanover County, NC

Ed McMahon has a bachelor's degree in multidisciplinary studies from Liberty University. He lives with his wife and has two adult children.

Ed currently works as New Hanover County sheriff. He previously worked for the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office as chief deputy, captain, assistant division commander, lieutenant, sergeant, detective, and deputy, and previously served as a senior trooper with the Vermont State Police.

Ed currently serves as New Hanover County sheriff. He was appointed sheriff in 2009 and then elected to the position to serve four consecutive terms.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Sheriff Ed McMahon: In no particular order, the following are top three concerns that I have: the opioid epidemic and drug use in general is, and has been, a concern of mine. My office will continue to work with our law enforcement partners at the federal, state, and local levels. We will continue to arrest the individuals who are bringing drugs into our community and pedaling this poison to our citizens. We will continue working with health care partners to get those that are addicted help.

Election 2022: Sheriff Ed McMahon seeks reelection | Port City Daily

The gun violence and violent crime that has plagued our community is a concern of mine. Although our violent crime is down in the unincorporated area by 17% in the last year. and overall crime is down 41% in the last 7 years, there is still work to be done. I’m committed to getting these criminals who commit violent acts off the streets and into our jail and prisons where they belong. This is why I have partnered with the Wilmington Police Department and added approximately 20 additional deputies to work inside the city and alongside Wilmington police officers to combat the gang violence inside the city. We will continue to work with our federal, state and local partners to combat crime and keep our community safe.

I have committed to keeping a safe, positive learning environment for our students in our local schools. I have added multiple school resource officer positions this year. We have one of, if not the largest, school resource officer program in the state. This shows my commitment to keeping our students safe.

I have mandated that SROs receive active shooting training, shooting skills training, mental health first aid and crisis Intervention training to name a few. I’m committed to having the best trained SROs that will keep our school’s a safe learning environment. Our SROs are committed to building rapport with students and we are now teaching the DARE program not only in elementary but in the middle and high schools.

PCD: What are some measures you’re taking to improve transparency to the public and accountability inside the organization?

SEM: As sheriff, I have established the Sheriff’s Citizen’s Academy, which allows citizens for 10 weeks to experience all operations within the sheriff’s office. I require and hold fast that our deputies and officers adhere to our Mantra of Professionalism, Responsibility, Accountability and Integrity.

As we move forward, I will increase our technology footprint that will enable us to apprehend more criminals and ultimately keep our community safer. I will also continue to look at other positive programs that may be working at other agencies for future implementation.

Plans to work with law-enforcement partners to arrest people who bring drugs into the community.

Added approximately 20 deputies to work with Wilmington police to combat gang violence.

Added multiple school resource officer positions to support school safety.

Mandated school resource officer training in active-shooter response, shooting skills, mental health first aid, and crisis intervention.

Implemented Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instruction in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Plans to expand the sheriff's office use of technology to support apprehension of people suspected of crimes.

- Plans to work with law-enforcement partners to arrest people who bring drugs into the community.
- Added approximately 20 deputies to work with Wilmington police to combat gang violence.
- Added multiple school resource officer positions to support school safety.
- Mandated school resource officer training in active-shooter response, shooting skills, mental health first aid, and crisis intervention.
- Implemented Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) instruction in elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Plans to expand the sheriff's office use of technology to support apprehension of people suspected of crimes.

Public Safety

PCD: Do NHCSO staff and deputies receive fair pay? Do you plan to advocate for more?

SEM: Earlier this year, I asked our county manager and county commissioners to increase the pay for our deputies and detention officers. Each one received a 12.2% raise and we were very thankful for that.

The job that my officers do day in and day out is dangerous and I will continue to advocate for pay advances.

Advocates for pay increases for deputies and detention officers.

Implemented an early-warning system for deputies and detention officers to address conduct that harms office operations.

- Advocates for pay increases for deputies and detention officers.
- Implemented an early-warning system for deputies and detention officers to address conduct that harms office operations.

Jail Management

PCD: What is your approach to law enforcement working with individuals with mental health issues? What kind, if any, training has been/should be implemented, and do you believe in working with outside providers?

SEM: We train our deputies to be sensitive to the mental health needs of those we encounter. We train our deputies and detention officers in mental health first aid and crisis intervention training. This enables our officers to better communicate and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. I absolutely agree with working with outside providers and we do.

PCD: How will you ensure sheriff’s deputies follow proper training procedures, particularly when it comes to deescalation techniques and non-lethal force? Do you think enough is being done?

SEM: We have followed the guidelines of Senate Bill 300 along with our accreditations that ensure we are aligning with industry best practices. We also have mandatory training on de-escalation techniques and use of force. Here at the sheriff’s office, we have implemented an early warning system for our deputies and detention officers. We immediately address any and all behavior that might be detrimental to the smooth operation and function of the sheriff’s office. As your sheriff, I will not tolerate inappropriate behavior.

Committed to jailing people who commit violent acts.

Plans to work with health care partners to help people with addiction.

Trains deputies and detention officers in mental health first aid and crisis intervention, and works with outside providers.

Prioritizes training deputies and detention officers in mental health first aid and crisis intervention, and works with outside providers.

Requires deputy training on de-escalation techniques and use of force.

- Plans to work with health care partners to help people with addiction.
- Prioritizes training deputies and detention officers in mental health first aid and crisis intervention, and works with outside providers.
- Requires deputy training on de-escalation techniques and use of force.

Criminal Justice

Ed McMahon

Plans to continue working with law-enforcement partners to arrest people who bring drugs into the community.

Partnered with the Wilmington Police Department and added about 20 deputies to work with city police against gang violence.

Mandated active-shooter, firearms, mental-health first-aid, and crisis-intervention training for school resource officers.

Established a 10-week Sheriff's Citizen's Academy that allows participants to experience all sheriff's-office operations.

Plans to expand the sheriff's office use of technology to help apprehend more people suspected of crimes.

Trains detention officers in mental-health first aid and crisis intervention.

Implemented an early-warning system for deputies and detention officers and says the office promptly addresses detrimental behavior.

Asked county officials to raise pay for deputies and detention officers, and those employees subsequently received a 12.2% raise.

Plans to work with health care partners to help people with substance-use disorders.

Committed to incarcerating people who commit violent acts.

Works with outside providers to respond to people experiencing mental-health crises.

Implemented mandatory deputy training on de-escalation techniques and use of force.

Ed McMahon has a bachelor 27s degree in multi-disciplinary studies from Liberty University. He and his wife, Teena, have two married children and are grandparents.

Ed is a law enforcement officer. He has served as New Hanover County sheriff for 13 years. 

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Ed is currently the sheriff of New Hanover County. He has served in this role for 13 years.

Plans to continue working with federal, state, and local partners to combat crime and gang violence.

As of April 6, 2026, Ed McMahon’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports charging drug dealers with "death by distribution."

Ed McMahon is from Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended Cape Fear Community College for basic law enforcement training. He has a bachelor’s degree in multi-disciplinary studies from Liberty University. He lives with his wife, Teena, and their two married children, Shaun and his wife, Sara, and Taryn and her husband, Josh.

Ed is a law enforcement officer at the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office, where he has worked for 34 years, serving as sheriff for the past 16 years.

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Ed McMahon is currently the Sheriff of New Hanover County. He has served in this office for the past 13 years.

For Candidate Ed McMahon on Issue public-safety: Supports collaboration with law enforcement to combat gang violence and reduce crime, noting a decrease in violent crime in the community.

For Candidate Ed McMahon on Issue criminal-justice:  
Commits to addressing the opioid epidemic by helping those addicted and aggressively apprehending drug dealers, including thorough investigations and charging dealers with death by distribution.

Pavel Tantchev

Buket Urgen

- 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. 