Union News

Richmond County issued the following announcement on Aug. 5.

On August 5, 2021, Richmond County Sheriff James Edward Clemmons Jr., passed away of natural causes at his home in Rockingham, North Carolina, according to Chief Deputy Mark Gulledge.  Further details will be forthcoming at a later time.  Please keep Family, Friends, and members of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in your thoughts and prayers. 

James “Clem” Edward Clemmons, Jr. is the son of James Edward Clemmons Sr. and the late Beverly Clemmons. He is the father of one son, James Edward Clemmons III. 

Sheriff James Edward Clemmons, Jr. was hired as a Patrol Deputy at the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office in 1989. In 1991, he was promoted to Sergeant and assigned to the Detective Division. James was promoted to Lieutenant in 1997 and promoted again in 1998 to Captain. He served as a Captain in the Sheriff’s Office until 2002. On July 7, 2002, James was promoted to the rank of Major. He has the distinction of being the first person of color to attain the rank of Major in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. In November of 2010, James Clemmons was elected as the Sheriff of Richmond County. He is the first person of color to be elected as Sheriff in the history of Richmond County and the third Sheriff elected in 60 years. He was the chief law enforcement executive in Richmond County.

Sheriff James Edward Clemmons, Jr. was a Livingstone College Alumnus, Salisbury, North Carolina, and achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, North Carolina.  He was a member and Trustee of Grace Temple Fellowship Church, Wallace, South Carolina. 

During his law enforcement career, Sheriff Clemmons served in many capacities with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office. He served as the Commander of the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office SRT (Special Response Team) and the Community Police Coordinator for the Town of Dobbins Heights. He managed the operations of the Civil Division, Patrol Division, Jail and Courts. 

During his law enforcement career, Sheriff Clemmons achieved awards, certificates and training which include:

State of North Carolina CICP Certified Investigator

Train-the-Trainer Instructor School for Community Policing

Police Law Institute Training

Advanced Special Weapons and Tactics Training

Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate

Inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma National Criminal Justice Honor Society, Delta Kappa Chapter

Vice Chairman of the Richmond County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (2008)

2008 Graduate of Leadership Richmond

2009 Recipient of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission Intermediate Service Award

2009 Recipient of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission Advanced Service Award

2010 Chairman of Leadership Richmond

2012 Graduate of the North Carolina Sheriff Leadership Institute

Member of the North Carolina Sentencing Commission

Member of the North Carolina Justice Reinvestment Commission

North Carolina Sheriff’s Associations Legislative Committee

Co-Chairman of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Associations Audit Committee

Elected Third Vice-President of North Carolina Sheriff’s Association (2014 to 2015)

Elected Second Vice-President of North Carolina Sheriff’s Association (2016 to 2017)

Elected First Vice-President of North Carolina Sheriff’s Association (2017 to 2018)

Elected President of the North Carolina Sheriff's Association (2018-2019)

Livingstone College Alumnus, Salisbury, North Carolina

Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Olive College, Mount Olive, North Carolina 

The passing of Sheriff James Edward Clemmons, Jr. will be felt by many through Richmond County, North Carolina, as well as throughout the State of North Carolina and the entire United States who he touched their lives as a true man of Faith, Dedication and Integrity.

Original source can be found here.