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.

About | Donald Edwards for Sheriff

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.

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.

Donald Earl Edwards is a lifelong resident of Sampson County. He earned an associate degree and a bachelor's degree in business management and organizational development from the University of Mount Olive. He is married to Barbara Byrd Edwards and has two grown children and three grandchildren.

Donald Earl Edwards is a lifelong resident of Sampson County. He earned an associate degree and a bachelor's degree in business management and organizational development from the University of Mount Olive. He is married and has two grown children and three grandchildren.

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.

Donald Earl Edwards is a retired police chief who previously served with the Clinton Police Department.

Donald is a first-time candidate for political office.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Vision Statement

As Sheriff, I will develop an organization focused on professional service with integrity and respect, through open communication, responsiveness, and transparency, building trust and community relationships. With a commitment to training, developing, and supporting professional staff, we will be engaged with our diverse communities and work together to reduce crime, improve safety and quality of life for all Sampson County residents.

Vision | Donald Edwards for Sheriff

Within the criminal justice system, we will continue to build relations with our State and Federal partners to ensure we have sufficient resources to greater serve within our own communities. My focus will be on Sampson County by efficiently assigning personnel and available resources, applying a targeted team approach, where necessary, to address crime and safety concerns.

In the courts, schools, and communities, I will be engaged and work with citizens and community leaders to address their needs or concerns and most efficiently provide increased visibility, enforcement, and the highest levels of safety for our citizens, especially our children.

I will ensure we are responsive, providing fair and equal service to all citizens so we build and maintain trust.

We will train and develop staff, consistently evaluate our systems and processes, and work to achieve the best state and national standards for law enforcement service, while adhering to applicable rules and regulations.

Notable Accomplishments

Consistent crime reduction, having some of the lowest levels in a decade.

Increased gun and drug enforcement consistently, removing guns from the hands of criminals.

Accomplishments | Donald Edwards for Sheriff

Partnered with community leaders to conduct annual fund raising for the Child Advocacy Center, of which I was a member.

Partnered with Eastpointe (MCO) to equip every officer and patrol vehicle with Narcan, medication for overdose victims in effort to save lives and offer families Hope; lead the effort to spread to the County.

Strong focus on mental health response: increasing Sampson County’s Crisis Intervention training percent from under 10% to above 80%, with CPD having 100% before I retired.

Partnered with Eastpointe (MCO) to equip every officer and patrol vehicle with Narcan, medication for overdose victims in effort to save lives and offer families Hope; lead the effort to spread to the County.

Strong focus on mental health response: increasing Sampson County’s Crisis Intervention training percent from under 10% to above 80%, with CPD having 100% before I retired. Our efforts helped spread CIT to other first responders and significantly increased the County’s participation and certification.

CPD was the first in NC and among the first 10 in the nation to complete the IACP’s One Mind Campaign- focused on policy, training, and partnerships to respond to mental health calls for service and link families with available resources.

Expanded our drug take back program, hosting events, and partnering with pharmacies and other community resources taking in hundreds of pounds of unwanted medications annually.

Successively achieved accreditation with CALEA, which has been a foundation of providing fairness and transparency inside and outside the agency, while ensuring the agency maintains the best/highest national standards for law enforcement.

Plans to build community trust through professional service, staff development, open communication, and collaboration to reduce crime and improve safety.

Plans to use targeted assignments of personnel and resources to address crime and safety concerns.

Plans to work with residents and community leaders to increase law-enforcement visibility and enforcement, particularly for children's safety.

Pledges responsive, fair, and equal law-enforcement service to build and maintain public trust.

Plans to train staff, evaluate agency systems, and pursue state and national standards for law-enforcement services.

Increased gun and drug enforcement while serving as police chief, including efforts to remove guns from criminals.

Partnered to equip officers and patrol vehicles with naloxone for overdose victims and expand the effort countywide.

Increased crisis-intervention training participation in Sampson County and achieved full participation at the Clinton Police Department before retiring.

Expanded a medication take-back program through collection events and partnerships with pharmacies and community organizations.

- Plans to build community trust through professional service, staff development, open communication, and collaboration to reduce crime and improve safety.
- Plans to use targeted assignments of personnel and resources to address crime and safety concerns.
- Plans to work with residents and community leaders to increase law-enforcement visibility and enforcement, particularly for children's safety.
- Pledges responsive, fair, and equal law-enforcement service to build and maintain public trust.
- Plans to train staff, evaluate agency systems, and pursue state and national standards for law-enforcement services.
- Increased gun and drug enforcement while serving as police chief, including efforts to remove guns from criminals.
- Partnered to equip officers and patrol vehicles with naloxone for overdose victims and expand the effort countywide.
- Increased crisis-intervention training participation in Sampson County and achieved full participation at the Clinton Police Department before retiring.
- Expanded a medication take-back program through collection events and partnerships with pharmacies and community organizations.

Public Safety

As of April 6, 2026, Donald Earl Edwards’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Jail Management

I have, and will continue, to work closely with the District Attorney’s office to ensure we identify and help effectively prosecute violent, serious, and repeat offenders who threaten the quality of life in our communities.

Notable Accomplishments

Increased gun and drug enforcement consistently, removing guns from the hands of criminals.

Worked with DA’s to identify and remove violent, serious, or repeat offenders who threatened the quality of life in our communities.

Implemented agency’s first career development plan, recognizing and financially rewarding officers for attaining specialized training and education.

Plans to continue working with prosecutors to identify and effectively prosecute violent, serious, and repeat offenders.

- Plans to continue working with prosecutors to identify and effectively prosecute violent, serious, and repeat offenders.

Criminal Justice

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Donald Earl Edwards

Donald is the Chief of Police. He works at the Clinton Police Department, where he has been since 1993. He previously worked as a police officer, investigator, traffic enforcement officer, accreditation manager, and captain in the department.

Edwards retires, honored by city | Sampson Independent

For Candidate Donald Earl Edwards on Issue public-safety:  
Plans to equip every officer and patrol vehicle with Narcan to aid overdose victims and save lives.

Said, "Expanded our drug take back program, hosting events, and partnering with pharmacies and other community resources taking in hundreds of pounds of unwanted medications annually."

Said, "Strong focus on mental health response: increasing Sampson County’s Crisis Intervention training percent from under 10% to above 80%, with CPD having 100% before I retired. Our efforts helped spread CIT to other first responders and significantly increased the County’s participation and certification."

Advocates for achieving accreditation with CALEA to ensure fairness, transparency, and adherence to the highest national standards in law enforcement.

For Candidate Donald Earl Edwards on Issue criminal-justice: Supports creating a Police Youth Camp to foster closer relationships between youth and police in an educational setting.

Said, "Implemented agency’s first career development plan, recognizing and financially rewarding officers for attaining specialized training and education."

Said, "Partnered with community leaders to conduct annual fund raising for the Child Advocacy Center, of which I was a member."

Supports educating the public, especially youth, about substance abuse and linking the community with resources.

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Jimmy Thornton

- 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. 