Alamance County, North Carolina, has a new sheriff in town, this time with voters ousting a pro-ICE, six-term incumbent who has faced accusations of racial profiling, discriminatory policing and anti-immigrant practices. The man stepping into the role is a Black pastor and former school resource officer who says he’s ready to usher in a new era of accountability, trust and community-centered policing.
That man is Shannon Long, an unaffiliated candidate who campaigned against his opponent, six-term Sheriff Terry Johnson, for his pro-ICE policies. For years, Johnson faced accusations of racism and discrimination against Latino residents, including reports that he referred to them using racial slurs such as “taco eaters.” Following a 2012 investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice accused Johnson’s office of fostering “a culture of discrimination against Latinos,” per Bolts Mag.
His department also faced scrutiny for its use of excessive force against Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020. The hardline sheriff cracked down on demonstrators amid the uprisings following George Floyd’s death, sending dozens to jail, outfitting deputies in full military gear and arresting protesters for minor infractions, according to ProPublica.
Johnson’s office also partnered with ICE through the agency’s 287(g) program, which allowed deputies to question people about their immigration status during patrols, and even leased jail space to the agency to detain immigrants.
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Long — who dominated the race against Republican incumbent Terry Johnson with 52.41% of the vote — has other plans, including keeping the sheriff’s office out of the 287(g) program and rebuilding trust with residents who have felt targeted by law enforcement. Under his leadership, he’s promised to strengthen deputy training in de-escalation tactics and efforts to address racial profiling, while prioritizing physical and mental health support systems.
In addition to building trust between the sheriff’s office and the community, Long seeks to uplift residents who feel underrepresented.
“To meet the officers where they are,” Long said of his starting plan as Alamance County Sheriff. “Wearing the uniform behind the badge, they [officers] feel like they are voiceless,” Long told WFMY News.
Elaborating further on his plans, Long maintained that prejudice and racial profiling won’t be tolerated on his watch.
“We have got to get rid of racial profiling. We’ve got to get rid of prejudice. We’ve got to get rid of, let me use a term I learned here in the county, the ‘good old boy’ system,” Long told the News of Orange County back in July.
After 24 long years under Republican Sheriff Terry Johnson, Alamance County is preparing for a new chapter, one Long says will be defined by accountability, transparency and a sheriff’s office that truly supports the community it serves.
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