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About Sheriff Johnson

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Terry Johnson is a proud Alamance County native who has spent his life serving the community he calls home.

A graduate of Southern Alamance High School, Terry played football there before continuing his athletic and academic career at East Carolina University, where he played football and earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in 1973. 

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Terry has been married for 54 years to his wife, Patricia Isley Johnson, and together they have two children and three grandchildren. Family, faith, and community have always been at the center of his life and his public service. 

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

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Career in Law Enforcement

  • Pitt County Sheriff’s Office

    • Patrol Deputy

    • August 1, 1972 – September 1973

  • North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI)

    • September 1973 – March 2001

Retired as State Coordinator for the SBI Intelligence Unit

  • Elected Sheriff of Alamance County

    • November 2002 – Present

    • Responsible for serving a population of over 188,000 residents across 435 square miles, overseeing 346 sworn and civilian employees.

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“Serving Alamance County isn’t just my job — it’s my home, my family, and my lifelong commitment.”

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    Leadership

    For more than two decades, Terry Johnson has served Alamance County with a focus on professionalism, accountability, and public safety.

    Since being elected Sheriff in 2002, Sheriff Johnson has led the Alamance County Sheriff’s Office through significant growth and modernization—overseeing operations that serve more than 183,000 residents across 435 square miles with more than 300 sworn and civilian employees. 

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    Under his leadership, the Sheriff’s Office has expanded specialized units, strengthened interagency cooperation, and invested in training, technology, and community-based programs to better protect families and neighborhoods throughout Alamance County.

  • Law Enforcement Education & Professional Training

    Sheriff Johnson’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to education, training, and professional excellence in law enforcement. His formal education includes a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from East Carolina University, where he played football on scholarship.

    Over the course of his career, Sheriff Johnson completed extensive law enforcement, investigative, leadership, and instructional training, including:

    • Graduate of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Academy

    • Graduate of the University of Georgia Homicide Investigation School

    • Certified Law Enforcement Instructor at multiple North Carolina institutions

    • Certified Sniper/Observer Training

    • Certified Computer Operator, North Carolina Police Information Network

    • Extensive DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) training, including:

      • Outstanding Student, LAPD DARE Training School

      • National DARE Trainer of Trainers

      • Guest Lecturer Certification

    • Specialized training in:

      • Homicide investigation

      • Excessive force and officer-involved shootings

      • Financial investigations and asset forfeiture

      • Internet crimes against children

      • Human trafficking

      • Police discipline and leadership

      • Border security and narcotics enforcement

    Sheriff Johnson has also served as a certified instructor and guest lecturer at conferences and training programs across the country, helping train the next generation of law enforcement professionals.

  • Honors & Awards

    Throughout his career, Sheriff Johnson has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels for his service, leadership, and commitment to public safety, including:

    • Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer of the Year – Reidsville Jaycees

    • Distinguished Service Award – True Detective Magazine

    • Outstanding Student Award, LAPD DARE Training School

    • President, National DARE Officers’ Association

    • Daryl F. Gates Lifetime Achievement Award (highest DARE honor worldwide)

    • Outstanding SBI Agent of the Year – North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation

    • Order of the Long Leaf Pine (twice), awarded by North Carolina Governors

    • Veterans of Foreign Wars Certificate of Appreciation

    • State Executive DARE Administrator of the Year

    • State Civitas Audentia Award

    • Charles R. Jonas Award, inducted into the North Carolina Republican Party Hall of Fame

    These honors reflect a career defined by service, integrity, and leadership at every level of law enforcement.

  • Strengthening Public Safety in Alamance County

    As Sheriff, Terry Johnson has led or helped create specialized units and programs that improve safety, accountability, and coordination, including:

    • Special Victims Unit (sexual assault & child exploitation)

    • Domestic Violence Unit

    • Mental Health Unit

    • Sex Offender Registry & Monitoring Unit

    • Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force

    • Multi-county and federal task forces targeting:

      • Narcotics trafficking

      • Violent crime

      • Fugitive apprehension

    • Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) Unit

    • Evidence Depository Unit

    • School Resource Officers in every elementary, middle, and high school

    • Emergency response, court security, animal control, and detention safety improvements

    These initiatives reflect a proactive approach to public safety—addressing crime, prevention, and community needs together.

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