A New Sheriff
A New Direction for Johnston County
I’m Randy Ackley and I’m a proud Republican running for Sheriff of Johnston County, NC in the Johnston County Primary on March 3, 2026 .
I’m running because we need new leadership and a new direction in our Sheriff’s Office. With 23 years of on-the-road, in-the-field, law enforcement experience, I know we need to improve and modernize the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.
With the greatest respect for Sheriff Bizzell, it’s time to bring new ideas, new strategies and new leadership to the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office.
"We need a Sheriff who will look to the future and will be an advocate for efficient, effective law enforcement services across our county. When our county is growing at a rate of 14.89% in the last four years, we see the critical need to modernize the Johnston County Sheriff’s Office. We need to keep pace with the growth so we can better serve and protect the citizens of Johnston County."
--- Randy Ackley
1
Support Law Enforcement Personnel: Invest in the men and women on the front lines by ensuring competitive salaries and benefits that help recruit and retain the best deputies, detention officers, and support staff.
2
Modernize Law Enforcement Technology: Equip all deputies with body cameras to promote transparency and public trust. Install license plate readers at key interchanges like I-95 and I-40 to strengthen investigations and enable real-time crime tracking.
3
Strengthen Patrol Presence: Increase the number of deputies on patrol to improve response times and enhance visibility in our neighborhoods and communities.
4
Combat Fraud and Theft: Prioritize the fight against fraud, including online schemes and retail theft, to better protect residents and businesses.
5
Reinstate Specialized Units: Bring back the Narcotics and Drug Interdiction Units to more effectively address drug-related crimes and keep our communities safe.
6
Enhance Training and Professionalism: Expand in-service training programs to elevate professionalism, strengthen skills, and improve service throughout the agency.
7
Revamp Detention Center Operations: Overhaul jail operations by recruiting qualified staff and offering competitive compensation to ensure a safe, well-managed facility.
8
Establish a Senior Citizens Well Check Program: Provide assistance to home-bound seniors who need regular check-ins to make sure they are safe and healthy.
PUBLIC SAFETY PLATFORM
KEY ISSUES
STAFFING SHORTAGES & LOW RETENTION
Johnston County is struggling to retain and recruit qualified deputies, detention officers, and support staff. Low pay, outdated training programs, and limited career development opportunities are driving talent away — putting public safety at risk. We must invest in the men and women on the front lines to rebuild a professional, motivated law enforcement team.
OUTDATED TECHNOLOGY LIMITING EFFECTIVENESS
We need to bring the Sheriff’s Office into the 21st century. Deputies still lack body cameras — a basic tool for transparency and accountability. We also lack license plate recognition systems at key traffic corridors like I-95 and I-40, limiting our ability to track criminal activity and respond in real time.
NOT ENOUGH DEPUTIES ON THE ROAD
Our population has grown nearly 15% in the past four years, but the number of deputies hasn’t kept pace. This gap leads to slower response times and less law enforcement visibility in our neighborhoods. We need more deputies on patrol, actively serving and protecting the communities they’re sworn to defend.
RISING FRAUD TARGETING FAMILIES & SENIORS
Johnston County residents and businesses are losing over $3 million annually to fraud schemes — including organized retail theft and online scams targeting seniors. Yet, our Sheriff’s Office lacks the technology and structure needed to effectively investigate and prevent these crimes.
THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC ISN’T SLOWING DOWN
Fentanyl and illegal drugs continue to devastate families across Johnston County, but our Sheriff's Office no longer has fully operational Narcotics and Drug Interdiction Units. Without these critical resources, we’re falling behind in the fight against illegal drug trafficking and abuse.
INCONSISTENT TRAINING & LACK OF MENTORSHIP
Many deputies and detention officers are not receiving up-to-date in-service training or the mentorship they need to grow into effective, community-focused law enforcement professionals. New recruits especially need structured support as they begin their careers.
UNDERSTAFFED & OUTDATED DETENTION CENTER OPERATIONS
Our county’s detention center faces critical staffing shortages, high turnover, and outdated intake processes. These issues strain law enforcement agencies across Johnston County and create long-term operational risks.
LACK OF SUPPORT FOR VULNERABLE SENIORS
Too many seniors in Johnston County — especially those who are home-bound or living alone — are falling through the cracks. There’s no regular check-in program to ensure they’re safe, healthy, or have what they need. With an aging population, this is a public safety gap we can’t afford to ignore.
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