Rodney Rawls

Rodney Rawls is the Republican candidate for Dare County Sheriff in the 2026 North Carolina elections, with the primary held on March 3, 2026 and the general election slated for November 3, 2026. The sheriff’s office is the county’s chief law‑enforcement agency, responsible for public safety, jail operations, and civil process, and will be filled by popular vote in this cycle [1].

A lifelong Dare County resident, Rawls graduated from Manteo High School in 2002 after beginning public‑service work at age 13 as a junior firefighter with the Roanoke Island Fire Department. He continued in the fire service through his teens before joining the Kill Devil Hills Police Department in 2004 at age 20, where he has risen to the rank of Master Patrol Sergeant [5][6][8].

Rawls’ law‑enforcement career spans more than two decades. After completing Basic Law Enforcement Training, he was hired by Kill Devil Hills Police and has logged over 22 years with the department, advancing through the ranks and currently serving in patrol leadership. Parallel to his police work, he volunteered with Dare County EMS from 2013 until 2025, providing emergency medical response throughout the county [5][8].

His professional record includes several recognitions: the North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate (2015), the Hometown Hero Public Safety Award (2017), and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (2019). He also completed the West Point Leadership Program at Methodist University (2017) and attended the FBI Command College, among other leadership courses, to enhance his command capabilities [5][8].

Beyond policing, Rawls remains active in community safety. He continues as a volunteer firefighter for Kill Devil Hills, earning Firefighter of the Year honors in 2020 and 2022. He completed foster‑parent training in 2022, has fostered multiple children, and adopted his daughter in 2024, reflecting a personal commitment to family and social services [5][8].

During the campaign, Rawls emphasized retaining experienced personnel as the chief challenge for the sheriff’s office, arguing that strong leadership, consistent standards, and a supportive internal culture are essential for public safety. He pledged to invest in training, improve recruitment and retention, and address the county’s drug‑related issues through persistent law‑enforcement effort. These positions were outlined in his responses to a candidate forum and a local news questionnaire [8][12].

Rawls won the Republican primary, defeating three fellow law‑enforcement candidates, and, with no Democratic challenger on the ballot, is expected to become the next Sheriff of Dare County after the November election. The retiring incumbent, Sheriff John “Doug” Doughtie, has served since 2010, making Rawls’ potential election a continuation of local law‑enforcement leadership [8][9][11].

Sources

• [1] Rodney Rawls (Dare County Sheriff, North Carolina ...
• [5] About | Rodney Rawls For S 1
• [6] Home | Rodney Rawls For S 1
• [8] Dare sheriff candidate Rodney Rawls
• [9] The Outer Banks Voice - As the next Dare County Sheriff, Rodney Rawls seeks to bring ‘out the best’ in the department
• [11] The Outer Banks Voice - Some final words on the Dare County Sheriff’s contest
• [12] The four candidates for Dare Sheriff on their priorities and key issues