Experience, Education & Ability: Clarence Birkhead For Durham County Sheriff

Clarence Birkhead is working hard to make this election a historic event. Will Durham once again demonstrate their tendency towards progressiveness by electing its first African American Sheriff?

No doubt that Birkhead has the experience, education, and ability to become an impressive sheriff, but will Durham County, one of the most progressive counties in North Carolina, go out and vote in this election?  That is Birkhead’s hope. 

Birkhead is uniquely positioned to serve in Durham County which has rapidly become one of the most progressive counties in North Carolina, attracting people from across the country, despite the majority Republican Legislature. Unlike former sheriffs that have come up through the ranks, Birkhead has been exposed to state-of-the-art techniques and training through his 17 years at Duke University. 

As Duke Chief of Police for 7 years, Birkhead was responsible for an inclusive community that consists of people from countries around the world. Serving people of diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds, Birkhead honed his human relations and public relation skills over the years.   As an educator, Birkhead has taught various criminal justice courses at the community college level, to include constitutional law which makes him more than qualified to evaluate the current abilities and training of the workforce in the Durham County Sheriff’s Office while working to develop a police force that will become well-trained.    

In 1984, way down in Randolph County, Clarence Birkhead put on a deputy shield for the first time in his life.  As he began his work as the only African American deputy in Randolph County, he committed himself to doing his best and treating everyone with respect.  It was that first law enforcement experience where Birkhead realized that law enforcement was what he wanted to do.  It became a calling that he would go on to fulfill over thirty years during which he took the time to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management.

Birkhead is committed to a transparent leadership that is accessible and accountable. He is concerned and wants to ensure that persons incarcerated are safe in the jail and treated humanely.   His platform also promises to make certain that the immigrant community feels safe and is free from harassment.  Most important to Birkhead is to lead a cadre of deputies that behave in a manner in which people feel safe when interacting with law enforcement.  He has also promised to re-envision the School Resource Officer program and work collaboratively to ensure our schools are as safe as possible.

Electing Clarence Birkhead can be the year that Durham acknowledges that it needs a progressive sheriff.  It can be the historic year when a well-qualified and educated African American man steps into an office that has too long been dominated by the old guard of White men. 

For more information about Clarence Birkhead, visit www.birkheadfordurham.com

To view the answers to PA questionnaire click here

Paid for by Birkhead for Durham.