Sheriff Burnis Wilkins began pursuing his career in public service as a teenager by serving as a volunteer firefighter with the Northwoods Volunteer Fire Department and as an auxiliary dispatcher for the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office while in high school. He later joined Lumberton Rescue & EMS as an EMT, and now serves as an honorary member for his over 30 years of volunteer service.

Sheriff Wilkins and his wife Jamie live in Lumberton and enjoy traveling as time allows, and spending time with family and friends.

Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins

Burnis Wilkins lives in Lumberton with his wife, Jamie, and serves as an honorary member of Lumberton Rescue & EMS after more than 30 years of volunteer service.

Sheriff Wilkins | Robeson County NC Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Wilkins was sworn in as a police officer with the Lumberton Police Department in 1981. He joined the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office in 1982 as a patrol deputy. Sheriff Wilkins was afforded the opportunity to work in multiple divisions, including becoming a Drug Division Supervisor and Supervisor of a federally funded Drug Task Force in Hoke and Robeson Counties, eventually being promoted to Chief of Detectives.

In 1992, Sheriff Wilkins was selected to serve with the N.C. Department of Crime Control & Public Safety as a state agent, with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division. Sheriff Wilkins concluded his career as a sworn Special Deputy U.S. Marshal assigned to the Eastern District of N.C. Violent Fugitive Task Force.

Burnis Wilkins previously served as a sworn special deputy U.S. marshal assigned to the Eastern District of North Carolina Violent Fugitive Task Force. He also worked as a state agent with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division and held roles with the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office, including patrol deputy, Drug Division Supervisor, and chief of detectives, after serving as a police officer with the Lumberton Police Department.

Sheriff Wilkins initially retired in 2012 and ran a successful campaign to become a Lumberton City Councilman. Shortly after winning a second term as a City Councilman, Sheriff Wilkins was encouraged to file for the seat of the sheriff, as the sheriff at that time had announced his upcoming retirement.

Sheriff Wilkins ran a successful campaign and won the election in 2018 and again in 2022, becoming the first sheriff to run unopposed in Robeson County.

Burnis currently serves as Robeson County sheriff. He was elected in 2018 and again in 2022 and is serving his second term. Burnis previously served as a Lumberton city councilman and won a second term.

2026 North Carolina General Election

“While no sheriff can guarantee a decline in the homicide rate, I believe the decline is the result of consistent leadership, boots-on-the-ground policing and strong community partnerships,” Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. “By being proactive, visible and focused on violent offenders, we are seeing real progress, and doing our best to make a difference in someone’s life as we keep pushing forward.
I am also proud of my Homicide Division in regard to their investigative abilities and current solve rate as compared to the national average.”

Murder rate down locally in 2025 – Robesonian

After ongoing criminal violations, acts of violence and numerous community complaints at Kalee’s Oasis, Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins requested assistance from the North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) to investigate criminal activity at the property located at 5359 U.S. 74 Alternate West in Rowland.

Final Judgment Ordered in Robeson County Nuisance Case

“We appreciate the assistance of ALE to address and prevent the furtherance of this nuisance along Chicken Road and Highway Alternate 74 outside of Rowland. Multiple steps have now been taken by the owners to address our concerns,” said Sheriff Wilkins. “Our priority is to protect the quality of life for residents in this area, and those that visit this location to ensure their safety.”

The Misdemeanant Confinement Program and Community Service workers are pairing up to pick up litter and keep some of our county grounds clean. The Community Impact Team has already made huge strides in neighborhoods in the county and they just started last week. We have added on new K9’s to have one available 24/7. While we don’t advertise our every move, our agency is working very hard for you.

Believes proactive, visible policing focused on violent offenders and community partnerships can help reduce homicides.

As sheriff, requested North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division assistance to investigate criminal activity at a Rowland property following reported violations, violence, and community complaints.

Added K-9 units to ensure one is available around the clock.

- Believes proactive, visible policing focused on violent offenders and community partnerships can help reduce homicides.
- As sheriff, requested North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement Division assistance to investigate criminal activity at a Rowland property following reported violations, violence, and community complaints.
- Added K-9 units to ensure one is available around the clock.

Public Safety

Uses misdemeanor confinement and community-service workers for litter pickup and maintenance of county grounds.

- Uses misdemeanor confinement and community-service workers for litter pickup and maintenance of county grounds.

Jail Management

The Border Belt Drug Task Force will be a partnership between the Robeson, Bladen and Columbus sheriff’s offices, the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and the Robeson and Bladen/Columbus district attorneys.

“By combining the investigative personnel and everything that we are going to discuss here, the intelligence-sharing capabilities, the coordinating prosecutor efforts, the Border Belt Drug Task Force will strengthen regional efforts while ensuring more effective investigations and stronger cases for prosecution,” Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said.

Local sheriffs, SBI introduce Border Belt Drug Task Force – Robesonian

“By combining the investigative personnel and everything that we are going to discuss here, the intelligence-sharing capabilities, the coordinating prosecutor efforts, the Border Belt Drug Task Force will strengthen regional efforts while ensuring more effective investigations and stronger cases for prosecution,” Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said.

“The Task Force will operate across jurisdictional boundaries, allowing participating agencies to target criminal investigations that often exploit those county lines. The county line will no longer be an issue here.”

Wilkins said the task force is expected to quickly target some of the “larger drug dealers” in Robeson County and the three-county area. At the same time, his office continues efforts to help those who are struggling with drug addiction through the SAFE program.

“It’s only fixing to get hotter on the drug dealer,” Wilkins said. “We’re really going to target them. We have a program for our addicted folks, the SAFE program, Substance Abuse Freedom and Education program, that we pay for through a 501(c)3 nonprofit at the Sheriff’s Office. We’re going to help the drug-addicted, but the drug dealer, rest assured we’re coming after them.”

LUMBERTON — The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a portion of $1.5 million in state funding which will help provide funding for the Substance Abuse Freedom & Education Program (SAFE) Program.
“The SAFE Program has been very beneficial in providing support to our residents who are combating addiction,” Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said. “We are blessed and appreciative to receive the funding to continue our mission on helping as many people as possible.”

State funding to support RCSO’s SAFE Program – Robesonian

> Sara Graham was reported missing in 2015, and the investigation began immediately with the assistance of local, state, and federal agencies. After I was elected Sheriff in 2018, I made it a priority to continue investigating Sara’s disappearance, along with other unsolved cases that had gone cold. We established a Cold Case Investigative Team made up of experienced retired local, state, and federal investigators. To date, that team has successfully helped or assisted in clearing four cold cases.

‘Education is a wonderful thing’: Sheriff responds to criticism in Sara Graham investigation

> “Justice is not measured by how quickly an arrest is made. Justice is measured by knowing the job, doing the job, following the law, and presenting a case that can withstand scrutiny in a court of law. That is exactly what was done here.”

Sheriff Burnis Wilkins

Supports the Border Belt Drug Task Force to share intelligence, coordinate prosecutors, and strengthen investigations and prepare cases for prosecution across county lines.

Supports addiction assistance through the Substance Abuse Freedom and Education Program while prioritizing enforcement against drug dealers.

As sheriff, prioritized continuing investigations into unsolved cases and established a Cold Case Investigative Team of retired local, state, and federal investigators.

Said justice requires following the law and presenting cases that can withstand court scrutiny, rather than measuring success by the speed of an arrest.

- Supports the Border Belt Drug Task Force to share intelligence, coordinate prosecutors, and strengthen investigations and prepare cases for prosecution across county lines.
- Supports addiction assistance through the Substance Abuse Freedom and Education Program while prioritizing enforcement against drug dealers.
- As sheriff, prioritized continuing investigations into unsolved cases and established a Cold Case Investigative Team of retired local, state, and federal investigators.
- Said justice requires following the law and presenting cases that can withstand court scrutiny, rather than measuring success by the speed of an arrest.

Criminal Justice

Burnis Wilkins

Burnis Wilkins has an associate's degree in criminal justice. He and his wife, Jamie, live in Lumberton.

Burnis is a law enforcement officer. He previously served as a police officer with the Lumberton Police Department, a patrol deputy with the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, and a state agent with the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. He also worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Lumberton Rescue and EMS. 

Burnis is currently the sheriff of Robeson County. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. Before serving as sheriff, he was a member of the Lumberton City Council.

Burnis Wilkins (Robeson County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate ...

Aims to improve relationships between law enforcement, first responders, and citizens to enhance public safety and combat drug-related issues, with a goal of restoring community comfort and security.

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

Burnis is from Lumberton, North Carolina. He has an associate degree in criminal justice. He lives with his wife, Jamie, in Lumberton.

Burnis is the Sheriff at the Robeson County Sheriff's Office. He works at the Robeson County Sheriff's Office, where he has been since 2018. He previously worked at the Lumberton Police Department as a police officer starting in 1981, the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, drug division supervisor and chief of detectives, the North Carolina Department of Crime Control & Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement Division as a state agent, and the U.S. Marshals Service as a special deputy on the Eastern District of North Carolina Violent Fugitive Task Force.

Burnis Wilkins is currently the Sheriff of Robeson County. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He previously served as a Lumberton City Councilman, first elected in 2012 and winning a second term on the council before his election as sheriff.

Supports collaboration between law enforcement, first responders, and citizens to address drug-related crimes and restore community safety.

Sheriff Burnis Wilkins has an associate's degree in criminal justice. He and his wife, Jamie, live in Lumberton.

Burnis is a law enforcement officer. He previously served as a special deputy U.S. marshal, a state agent with the North Carolina Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and a police officer with the Lumberton Police Department. He also worked as an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Lumberton Rescue & EMS. 

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Dakota Dimery

- 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. 