Joseph Jones resigned as Graham County Sheriff on Monday.
In a move that caught everyone off guard, Graham County Sheriff Joseph Jones tendered his resignation early Monday afternoon.
The action takes effect immediately.
Jones submitted a formal letter of resignation to the Graham County Republican Party to inform them of the decision, which cited personal reasons as the motivating factor.
“First and foremost, I want to say that it has been a dream come true to be elected by the people of our county to serve as your sheriff,” the letter reads. “I want to thank each and every person who has shown support for the Graham County Sheriff’s Office during my term as your sheriff. This county and the citizens we all serve will always mean the world to me.
“With that being said, It is with heartbreaking regret that I will not fulfill my term as your sheriff. Due to health issues that have further developed due to the stress related to the job, threats against my family, and the need to spend more time with my children and my precious granddaughter, I must distance myself from the position as your sheriff.
“It is with a heavy heart that I say this, but we have accomplished many things in a short time, and I honestly believe that the staff of your sheriff’s office will continue to serve the best interests of each and every citizen of our county. As I have always said, thank you for your support.”
Per N.C. G.S. 162-5.1, “Vacancy filled in certain counties; duties performed by coroner or chief deputy,” the Republican Party must seek candidates for recommendation before the Graham County Board of Commissioners.
“In those counties where the office of coroner has been abolished, the chief deputy sheriff, or if there is no chief deputy, then the senior deputy in years of service, shall perform all the duties of the sheriff until the county commissioners appoint some person to fill the unexpired term,” part of the statute reads. “In all counties the regular deputy sheriffs shall, during the interim of the vacancy, continue to perform their duties with full authority.”
The statute only applies to 44 of North Carolina’s 100 counties, including Cherokee, Clay, Jackson, Transylvania and, of course, Graham.
Steve Odom, head of the county’s Republican Party, issued a statement about how the matter will be addressed.
“I thank Sheriff Jones for his service and wish him the absolute best in the future,” Odom’s statement read. “As required by North Carolina General Statute, I will convene a meeting of the Graham County Republican Executive Committee in coming days to consider interested parties to fill the unexpired term."
Resumes for the position should be submitted to sbodom@frontier.com by noon Monday. Minimum qualifications to be considered for the role are:
* You must be 21 years old.
* You must have never been convicted of a felony.
* You must be a registered member of the Republican Party.
* You must have been a resident of Graham County before the vacancy.
The statement also addressed the party’s desire to understand what thoughts candidates have on combating the drug issue in Graham County.
Jones took office in December 2018. Over the course of his service, he spearheaded an increased police presence in the county, including expanding staff and its training, as well as more frequent patrolling in troublesome areas, to help battle the local drug issue.
He also oversaw an operation that worked around the clock for several weeks in March, when Graham County opted to close its borders in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.