Rowan County Sheriff's Office (North Carolina) is a local county law enforcement agency in Rowan County, North Carolina. Its mission is "to provide professional law enforcement to the citizens of Rowan County, North Carolina through efficient and effective methods. This mission encompasses functions of courthouse security, civil process, operation of detention facility, investigations and community patrol." There are over 200 employees, most of which are sworn deputies. Rowan County Sheriff's Office won the J. Stannard Baker Award, a national award for outstanding achievement in highway safety, in 2003.
Rowan County Sheriff's Office was founded in 1753. The name of the sheriff in 1753 is unknown. The following is a list of sheriff's from 1754 through present day.
1754–1758 David Jones
1758–1759 Edward Hughes
1759–1763 Benjamin Miller
1763–1764 William Massey
1764–1767 Francis Locke
1767–1768 Griffith Rutherford
1768–1769 Andrew Allison
1769–1769 Adam Allison (August 11 – November 16)
1769–1771 William Temple Coles
1771–1772 James McKay
1772–1774 Daniel Little, Esq.
1774–1777 James Kerr
1777–1779 Galbraith Falls
1779–1779 George Henry Berger (February 2 – May 5)
1779–1779 Samuel Hughey (May 6 – November 3)
1779–1780 Josiah Rounsevall, Esq. (November 3 – May 3)
1780–1780 Moses Winslow, Esq. (May 3 – August 9)
1780–1781 William Brandon, Esq. (August 9 – May 9)
1781–1781 Peter Faust (May 9 – August 7)
1781–1782 James Craige
1782–1785 John Brevard Jr.
1785–1786 John Brevard Sr.
1786–1787 Huge Terrence (Torrence)
1787–1790 Lewis Beard
1790–1792 Isaac Jones
1792–1794 John Braly (Brawley) Jr.
1794–1808 John Troy
1808–1813 Edward Chambers
1813–1814 John Smith, Esq.
1814–1818 Alexander Frohock
1818–1820 John Beard, Esq.
1820–1824 Samuel Jones
1824–1826 Charles Fisher
1826–1828 Isaac D. Jones
1828–1837 Fielding Slater
1837–1841 John H. Hardie
1841–1849 Richard W. Long
1849–1858 Caleb Kluttz
1858–1865 W. A. Walton
1865–1866 Solomon Kluttz
1867–1872 W. A. Walton
1872–1880 C. F. Waggoner
1880–1890 Charles C. Krider
1890–1900 J. M. Monroe
1900–1906 D. R. Julian
1906–1908 Hodge Krider (father of J. H. Krider)
1908–1914 J. H. McKenzie
1914–1928 J. H. Krider
1928–1930 R. P. Lyerly
1930–1931 W. Locke McKenzie
1931–1932 Cal Miller
1932–1950 J. H. Krider
1950–1966 Arthur J. Shuping
1966–1986 John Stirewalt
1986–1986 Junius L. Bost (February – December)
1986–1998 Robert G. Martin
1998–2009 George A. Wilhelm
2010–pres. Kevin L. Auten (served as acting head while chief deputy from the time former sheriff Wilhelm resigned until Auten was appointed as sheriff in 2010)
There have been several deputies who died while on-duty:
Deputy Henry C. Owen was shot and killed February 20, 1895, by a man he was attempting to arrest for disturbing the peace.
Deputy William J. Propst was shot and killed on November 17, 1922, by a man he was attempting to arrest for shooting a local police chief.
Deputy Linzy J. Yarbrough died from a gunshot wound received while attempting to apprehend a man wanted for murder on June 3, 1927.
Sheriff W. Locke McKenzie was shot and killed by a man with a shotgun after responding to a disturbance on July 16, 1931.
Sheriff Sam L. Green was shot and killed while serving a warrant on December 31, 1962.
Deputy Danny Ray Griffin died in a collision on June 3, 1986.
Deputy Rick Bill Bauguess was struck by a vehicle during training on November 10, 1988.
Deputy John Lester Beck suffered a heart attack after arresting a man on January 27, 1994.
Deputy Richard Allen Hillard died in a collision while pursuing a fleeing motorcycle on October 17, 1999.
