Sheriff resumes campaigning following murder investigation | Eastern North Carolina Now

     Three weeks ago, Beaufort County Now contacted Beaufort County Sheriff Alan Jordan, the Democratic candidate for Sheriff, and requested that he send in a description of his service to be published before the election began. Though Election Day isn't until Nov. 2, early voting began Oct. 14. Jordan called Beaufort County Now this afternoon and explained that his statement had been delayed by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office's investigation of the recent murder of a Bath resident. Another campaigning opportunity missed by Jordan was the Oct. 12 Beaufort County candidates' forum, sponsored by the Washington Daily News. Instead, Jordan sent Chief Deputy Harry Meredith to represent him in the debate with his Republican opponent, candidate Donald Dixon. Directly following Jordan's afternoon call, Retha Jefferson, the Treasurer of the Committee to Re-Elect Sheriff Alan Jordan, e-mailed Jordan's candidate statement, which is being posted uncut and unedited.

    Beaufort County Sheriff Alan Jordan is seeking re-election in November. He has served as your Sheriff for twelve years.

    Sheriff Jordan said, "One of the greatest privileges of my life has been the opportunity to serve as your Sheriff. I truly enjoy serving the citizens of Beaufort County through the important missions performed by the members of the Sheriff's Office."

    Sheriff Jordan leads the Nationally Accredited Beaufort County Sheriff's Office which has 81 positions, including Patrol Deputies, Criminal Investigators, Narcotics Investigators, Detention Officers, 911-Call Telecommunicators and Administrative Staff.

    "Deputies are encouraged to be innovative and resourceful in their day-to- day duties and aggressive in their attitudes toward solving crime. We are concentrating on making the community our partner in solving crime," Jordan said.

    Sheriff Jordan is a 1983 graduate of East Carolina University and earned his Basic Law Enforcement Certification in 1986 at Beaufort County Community College. The North Carolina Sheriffs' Education and Training Standards Commission awarded him the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate in 1998. In 2000, he graduated from the National Sheriffs' Academy Executive Development Program.

    Furthering his law enforcement education throughout his career, he is certified in leadership and supervision; crime scene investigation; homicide investigation; drug interdiction, search and seizure of illegal substances, and narcotics investigation; officer survival skills; management of critical incidents; serving of high-risk warrants; financial crimes investigation; and advanced civil process service.

    Today, Jordan is serving Beaufort County residents in his 23rd consecutive year in law enforcement in the county, with the last 22 years being affiliated with the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. In 1987, he served as an Auxiliary Patrolman with the Washington Police Department.

    From 1996-98, Jordan served as Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy, who is second in command at the law enforcement agency. Jordan joined the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office in 1988 and served in several positions, including Drug Task Force Commander, Criminal Investigator, Drug Abuse Resistance Education Officer, Drug Interdiction Aircraft Pilot and Patrol Deputy.

    For Jordan's intervention in drug activities in Beaufort County, he received the United States Drug Enforcement Administration Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Drug Law Enforcement.

    In July 2010, Sheriff Jordan was named by his fellow Sheriffs in North Carolina with their annual North Carolina Sheriffs' Association President's Award, making Sheriff Jordan a two-time recipient of the award. His colleagues also honored him with the award in 2008. The organization issued a statement in July and released it to media outlets across North Carolina proclaiming Sheriff Jordan as a "driving force, motivator, professional and a Sheriff who has rendered support and special service unto the North Carolina Sheriff's Association." As a member of the organization, Sheriff Jordan is a presenter and graduate of the Association's Sheriffs' Leadership Institute.

    As a member of the North Carolina Sheriffs' Association, Sheriff Jordan maintains formal order of the group at meetings as the organization's Sergeant at Arms and is co-chair of the Association's Legislative Committee, which is a proponent of public safety and law enforcement issues in North Carolina's law-making body, the General Assembly in Raleigh. In a position separate from the organization, but significant on the state level of law enforcement management, Sheriff Jordan is a Commissioner on the North Carolina Chief Justice's Criminal Justice Improvement Commission. He is also a board member of the North Carolina Victims Assistance Network.

    Sheriff Jordan is active in the Beaufort County community where he is a member of the Beaufort County Crime Stoppers Executive Board of Directors, the Criminal Justice Partnership Advisory Board, the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council, the North Carolina Victims' Assistance Network Board of Directors and the Purpose of God Outreach Program Board of Directors. In addition, Sheriff Jordan is an Ex-Officio Member of the Washington-Beaufort County Human Relations Council. He helped initiate the Beaufort County Crime Stoppers program and the Care Trak program to assist Alzheimer sufferers. He also helped establish the Sheriff's School Resource Officer program.

    Also in community affairs, Sheriff Jordan is a Past Chairman of the Boy Scout Nominating Committee, is Past Chairman of Friends of Scouting, and is a member of Washington Noon Rotary Club and Improved Order of Red Men.

    Sheriff Jordan said, "Thank you for your support and for allowing me to serve as your Sheriff for the past 12 years. I humbly request your continued support in the November 2nd election. I am immensely proud to have been able to serve as a law enforcement officer in Beaufort County for the past 23 years.

    "I require a team effort at the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. Through that teamwork, this Office is vigorous yet fair in its enforcement of the law. We train and prepare constantly to meet the ever-increasing challenges of criminal activity.

    "We strive to meet high standards in everything we do. It is a requirement of mine as your Sheriff that the men and women of our Office serve you, the citizens of Beaufort County, with the utmost in intervention strategies to keep our county as free of crime as possible.

    "I realize that there is an economic crisis worldwide that reaches Beaufort County. Therefore, the Sheriff's Office continues its law enforcement efforts and faces these economic challenges with the efficient use of our resources in a manner in which the safety of Beaufort County residents will not be compromised.

    "I believe that your Sheriff's Office should always be a part of the community and our personnel take part in programs that will benefit Beaufort County such as Beaufort County Crime Stoppers, Community Watch Organizations, Alzheimer's Care Trak Program, Beaufort County Drug Abuse Resistance Education Program, American Cancer Society Relay for Life, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program and the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office Sponsored Youth Baseball Team.

    I am eager to meet the challenges of the next four years and will work hard to maintain the high professional standards and quality of service that you have come to expect."