Burnis Lee Wilkins JR

Burnis Lee Wilkins Jr. is the incumbent Sheriff of Robeson County, North Carolina, and is seeking re‑election as the Democratic candidate for the 2026 general election on November 3, 2026. The county sheriff serves as the chief law‑enforcement officer, responsible for policing unincorporated areas, operating the county detention facility, providing court security, serving civil process, and coordinating emergency response and public‑safety initiatives across the jurisdiction.

Wilkins has more than four decades of sworn service in city, county, state and federal agencies. He began his career with the Lumberton Police Department in 1981, joined the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy in 1982, and rose through the ranks to become a Drug Division Supervisor, a federally funded Drug Task Force supervisor, Chief of Detectives, and later a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal on the Eastern District’s Violent Fugitive Task Force. He also served as a state agent with the North Carolina Department of Crime Control & Public Safety’s Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.

Wilkins holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and has earned numerous state certifications, including the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate, specialized instructor qualifications, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine (awarded in 2012) for his public service. He is also a certified EMT and an Open‑Water Diver.

Before being elected sheriff in 2018, Wilkins served as a Lumberton City Councilman, giving him experience in local governance and budgeting. He first appeared on the ballot for Robeson County Sheriff in the 2022 general election as the Democratic nominee, according to Ballotpedia [1].

As sheriff, Wilkins has emphasized improving relationships between law‑enforcement personnel, first responders, and the community. He has launched multi‑agency task forces to combat the county’s longstanding drug problem and has partnered with state and federal partners on nuisance‑abatement investigations, such as the 2025 case against Kalee’s Oasis, where his request for assistance from the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division led to a court‑ordered consent judgment restricting the property’s operations [5].

Wilkins’ office has also expanded community‑focused programs. In April 2026, the Sheriff’s Office participated in the opening of a Behavioral Health Urgent Care “SAFE” program, underscoring a commitment to mental‑health crisis response [2]. He has highlighted staffing shortages, noting that the department handles roughly 4,700 calls per month with only ten deputies on duty at any given time, and has advocated for hiring additional deputies and upgrading equipment such as Viper radios and Flock safety cameras to improve response capabilities and officer safety [12].

Wilkins continues to serve as an instructor, having taught thousands of officers and first responders across North Carolina in areas ranging from active‑shooter response to hazardous‑materials handling [4]. His public‑safety philosophy stresses “respect” and “community partnership,” with a stated goal of restoring a sense of safety so residents feel comfortable in their homes and workplaces [2].

Sources

• [1] Burnis Wilkins (Robeson County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022) - Ballotpedia
• [2] Robeson County NC Sheriff's Office
• [3] Robeson County Sheriff's Office | Robeson County, NC
• [4] Sheriff Wilkins | Robeson County NC Sheriff's Office
• [5] Final Judgment Ordered in Robeson County Nuisance Case | NC DPS
• [8] Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins' office said in a ...
• [12] Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins lays out needs for fighting crime in coming fiscal year | Robesonian