{"biography":"Sgt. Odell Williams is a North Carolina Marine Patrol sergeant and the unaffiliated (UNA) candidate for Hyde County Sheriff in the 2026 election [1][2]. The sheriff's office is responsible for law enforcement, jail administration, court security, and civil process service for Hyde County.\n\n## Background and education\n\nWilliams was born in Belhaven, North Carolina. He graduated from Mattamuskeet High School in 1985 and received a certificate as a heavy equipment mechanic from Beaufort County Community College in 1987 [1][2].\n\n## Career\n\nWilliams began his public-service career in 1996 with the North Carolina Department of Corrections at the Hyde Correctional Institute, where he worked seven years and was promoted to sergeant in 1998. After two Marine Patrol officers came to his neighborhood to help following a hurricane, he decided to pursue marine law enforcement, completing Basic Law Enforcement Training at night and joining the Hyde County Sheriff's Department before entering the North Carolina Marine Patrol in September 2004 [1][2].\n\nHe was first stationed aboard the 48-foot patrol vessel Roanoke in Nags Head for 26 months before transferring to Hyde County, where he has spent the bulk of his career. He was promoted to sergeant in 2012 and supervises eight officers covering the southern half of District 1, which includes Hyde and Dare Counties and the P/V Roanoke. He holds an Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate and serves as a field training officer and background investigator; his mechanical background is also used to help maintain patrol equipment [1][2].\n\nWilliams's casework has included a striped-bass seizure with replacement costs exceeding $373,000. In September 2021 he was named North Carolina Marine Patrol Officer of the Year, an honor tied in part to his covering staffing gaps \u2014 including leading his district for six months after his captain retired and covering at least four vacant officer positions in the same period [1][2].\n\n## Family\n\nWilliams lives near Swan Quarter with his wife of 30 years, Viola Williams, and their two children, Tyler and Mary Grace. He is a Master Mason at Atlantic Lodge 294 in Swan Quarter and a member of Swan Quarter Christian Church [2].\n\n## Sources\n[1] [Sgt. Odell Williams named Marine Patrol Officer of the Year \u2014 NC DEQ](https://www.deq.nc.gov/news/press-releases/2021/09/02/sgt-odell-williams-named-marine-patrol-officer-year) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20\n\n[2] [Sgt. Williams named Marine Patrol Officer of the Year \u2014 Coastal Review](https://coastalreview.org/2021/09/sgt-williams-named-marine-patrol-officer-of-the-year/) \u2014 accessed 2026-07-20","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"hyde","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Hyde County Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Odell","fullname":"Odell Williams","lastname":"Williams","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Hyde County Sheriff","county":"hyde","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"hyde","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"UNA","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"hyde","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Hyde County Sheriff","county":"hyde","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"hyde","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"UNA","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"UNA","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"summary":"Sgt. Odell Williams, a Marine Patrol officer and 2021 Officer of the Year, is the UNA candidate for Hyde County Sheriff in 2026.","terms":[],"token":"44fb85a7405ab726"}