Clarence is from Asheboro, North Carolina. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Shaw University and a master’s degree in organizational management from Pfeiffer University.

Office of the Sheriff | Durham County Sheriff

Clarence Birkhead is from Asheboro. He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Shaw University and a master’s degree in organizational management from Pfeiffer University. He lives with his wife, Kathy, and has three children.

Clarence is the Sheriff of Durham County. He works at the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been since first being elected in 2018.

Clarence previously worked as associate vice president of safety and security at Queens University, chief of police at the Hillsborough Police Department, chief of police at the Duke University Public Safety Department, and assistant chief at the Randolph County Sheriff's Office.

Clarence F. Birkhead is currently the Sheriff of Durham County. He was first elected in 2018 and has served two terms.

Clarence Birkhead - Ballotpedia

Clarence currently serves as the Durham County sheriff. He was first elected in 2018, and is serving his second term.

Said "public safety has never been just about enforcement—it is about fairness, compassion, and listening to the people we serve. "

As sheriff, "increased efforts to rid our communities of drugs and remove guns from our neighborhoods."

As sheriff, "implemented the Sheriff’s Targeted Enforcement Program (STEP) to address quality of life concerns in our community regarding public safety, gun violence, and criminal activity."

- Said "public safety has never been just about enforcement—it is about fairness, compassion, and listening to the people we serve. "
- As sheriff, "increased efforts to rid our communities of drugs and remove guns from our neighborhoods."
- As sheriff, "implemented the Sheriff’s Targeted Enforcement Program (STEP) to address quality of life concerns in our community regarding public safety, gun violence, and criminal activity."

Public Safety

Supports medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse, mental health care, peer support, transition services, and improving family communication for inmates in jail.

- Supports medication-assisted treatment for substance abuse, mental health care, peer support, transition services, and improving family communication for inmates in jail.

Jail Management

As sheriff, "rejected ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] detainers without a judicial warrant or a Notice to Appear."

As sheriff, banned no-knock warrants, which allow police to enter a property without first knocking and announcing their presence.

As sheriff, "implemented all aspects of  '8 Can’t Wait'," a set of law enforcement use of force policies that are intended to de-escalate violence.

As sheriff, created a Citizens Advisory Board to increase communication between the community and the sheriff.

- As sheriff, "rejected ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] detainers without a judicial warrant or a Notice to Appear."
- As sheriff, banned no-knock warrants, which allow police to enter a property without first knocking and announcing their presence.
- As sheriff, "implemented all aspects of  '8 Can’t Wait'," a set of law enforcement use of force policies that are intended to de-escalate violence.
- As sheriff, created a Citizens Advisory Board to increase communication between the community and the sheriff.

Criminal Justice

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Clarence F. Birkhead

Clarence Birkhead is from Asheboro, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Shaw University and a master's degree in organizational management from Pfeiffer University. He has lived in Durham since 1988.

Clarence is the sheriff of Durham County.

Clarence is currently the Durham County sheriff. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022.

Clarence Birkhead is from Asheboro, North Carolina. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Shaw University and a master's degree in organizational management from Pfeiffer University. 

Clarence is the sheriff of Durham County. He has served in this role since 2018. Before taking office, he worked as the director of safety and security at Queens University. He also previously served as a police officer in Durham and Asheboro.

Clarence is currently the Durham County Sheriff. He was first elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He is currently serving his second term.

Clarence Birkhead is from Asheboro, North Carolina. He has a bachelor 27s degree in criminal justice from Shaw University and a master 27s degree in organizational management from Pfeiffer University. He has lived in Durham since 1988.

Clarence is the sheriff of Durham County. He previously served as the chief of police for Hillsborough, North Carolina, and for Duke University. He also worked as a safety and security consultant and served as associate vice president of safety and security at Queens University in Charlotte, North Carolina. Earlier in his career, he worked as a deputy sheriff in Randolph County, North Carolina. 

Clarence is the Sheriff of Durham County. He works at the Durham County Sheriff’s Office, where he has been since 2018. He previously served in law enforcement roles at various North Carolina agencies during his more than forty-year career.

Clarence F. Birkhead is currently the Sheriff of Durham County. He was first elected in 2018 and is serving his second term.

Rafael Perez

Buket Urgen

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Johnny currently works as the chief executive officer of 4th World Security Consulting. He previously worked as the security and fraud manager at the Durham Housing Authority, chief of detention services for the Durham County Sheriff's Office and Vance County Sheriff's Office, and as the director of special operations and intelligence for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety. Johnny served in the U.S. Army for five years.

Johnny Hawkins - Ballotpedia

Johnny's campaign for Durham County sheriff is his first run for public office.

Said "[p]ublic safety is not enforcement alone. It is prevention, treatment, supervision, accountability, and restoration."

Supports increasing morale and addressing staff shortages through recruitment and retention.

Supports partnerships with other agencies and community partners.

- Said "[p]ublic safety is not enforcement alone. It is prevention, treatment, supervision, accountability, and restoration."
- Supports increasing morale and addressing staff shortages through recruitment and retention.
- Supports partnerships with other agencies and community partners.

Plans to "[e]nsure safe, humane, and constitutionally sound detention operations," and increasing treatment and structured supervision.

- Plans to "[e]nsure safe, humane, and constitutionally sound detention operations," and increasing treatment and structured supervision.

Plans to "[t]arget gun violence, gangs, youth crime, property theft, and drug distribution."

- Plans to "[t]arget gun violence, gangs, youth crime, property theft, and drug distribution."

Johnny D. Hawkins

Johnny D. Hawkins's campaign for Durham Sheriff is his first run for public office.

Johnny is the CEO of 4th World Consulting Security Management Group. He previously served five years as a military leader in the United States Army, worked as a correctional warden and director of special operations and intelligence for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, served as chief of detention services for the Durham County and Vance County sheriff’s offices, managed security and fraud investigations at the Durham Housing Authority, worked as a detention counselor at the Durham County Youth Home, and directed safety and security at Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill.

Johnny D. Hawkins’s campaign for Durham Sheriff is his first entry into politics.

- 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. 

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