The people of Swain County will cast ballots in the Primary election on March 3 to select a democrat and republican candidate to lead their party’s ticket in the November General Election. Incumbent Sheriff Brian Kirkland (R) is running to maintain the position he has held since July. Other candidates for Swain County Sheriff include Douglas (Tank) Anthony (D), Wayne Dover (R) and David Southards (D). Swain County Sheriff’s Office primary candidates completed a question and answer survey from the Smoky Mountain Times. Anthony did not respond to questions.
Candidates were asked the following questions:
• Tell us about yourself (party affiliation, education, experience, family life, hobbies, etc.)?
• Why do you want to be Sheriff of Swain County?
• What is the highest rank you’ve held in a sheriff’s office and what are/were your greatest achievements and/or accomplishments during that time?
• What changes have you made (or will implement) in the sheriff’s office?
• What are the biggest public safety challenges in this county right now? How do you plan to address them?
• How do you decide where to focus resources and patrols?
• What is needed for the office to operate successfully and how will you work with county officials to see these visions fulfilled?
• What’s being done to prevent crime, not just respond to it?
• How do you handle complaints or misconduct within the office?
• How do you ensure transparency with the public?
• How do you build trust with communities that feel over-policed or under-protected?
• What community outreach or youth programs does the office support?
• What are conditions like in the county jail? How will you address these concerns?
• How do you address mental health and addiction among inmates?
• What steps are taken to reduce repeat offenses after release?
•How would the office coordinate with local police, fire, and EMS?
Wayne Dover (R)
My name is Wayne Dover and I am a registered Republican. I have completed my high school diploma and am in the process of completing my associate’s degree in criminal justice administration. My wife, Sunshine, and I live in the Piney Grove community in Cherokee. I have two daughters ages 29 and 25. I grew up in Cherokee on Old No. 4 Road and my parents still live there. My wife and I are currently building a home so any free time I have is spent working on that. I have been in law enforcement since 1994. I have served as a patrol officer, school resource officer, patrol sergeant, investigator general crimes, investigator special victims’ unit, and assistant chief of police. I’ve worked at Swain County Sheriff’s Office, Sapphire Valley Public Safety, Cherokee Police Department, and Bryson City Police Department.
Aspirations, experience and achievements
I want to be Swain County Sheriff because I believe it is time for change. Brian has done an admirable job of keeping the department in line and running after the sudden shift in leadership; however, the community deserves a fresh perspective to help address their concerns. We have an opportunity to grow and evolve and become a leader in law enforcement in Western North Carolina, and I know I am the person to do that.
My highest rank was patrol sergeant. During this time, I began my specialized training in domestic violence. Completing this training laid the groundwork for my future work and helped me give back to my community as an investigator in the special victims’ unit.
Making changes
Medication Assisted Therapy, behavioral health, and peer support in the jail: I had the opportunity to see how successful this approach can be while working with CIPD. The people in our jails are members of our community and are very likely to return to our community. I’d like them to return and be safe, healthy, contributing members of our community but they need support to get on that path. Other counties and the EBCI have been using Opioid Settlement Funds to support these endeavors, and I would support doing the same in Swain County.
Zone Patrols: Swain County is a large area and even with the number of deputies we have out working it can be hard to respond in a timely manner. I am proposing breaking Swain County into three zones to allow us the ability to respond quickly. Zone 1: East Swain County from EBCI Boundary to Governors Island Bridge; Zone 2: From Governors Island Bridge to Alarka Bridge; Zone 3: From Alarka Bridge to Graham County and Macon County line. I believe this will give us a better response time to the furthest reaching areas of our jurisdiction such as the Towstring Community in Cherokee and the Dragon.
Training: I would like to see our deputies participating in more training outside of the basic training they are required to maintain. It is important for deputies to know how to respond to new or unexpected situations. I would like officers to be trained in de-escalation techniques, trauma informed response, specialized fields such as child crimes and domestic violence, and what community resources are available for their use. I would also make sure that officers will have time to train by ensuring their shifts are properly covered including picking shifts myself.
Building better relationships with EBCI: There was a breakdown in trust between the Swain County Sheriff’s Office and the EBCI over the last year. Brian has done a good job of starting the foundation of rebuilding that trust and I would want to continue that to build a strong long-lasting partnership. The EBCI is sovereign and our jurisdiction is limited to those few pieces of deeded land that lie within the Qualla Boundary, however that does not mean we cannot be good partners. I would want to cross train with the officers at CIPD, train my deputies on the laws that govern EBCI, bring in people to educate my deputies on the history of the EBCI, and craft MOU’s that create the most safety for members of both of our communities.
Public safety challenges
I hear two main concerns consistently in the community: the growing homeless population and drug use/drug related crimes. Both are complicated issues because they touch on so many areas related to mental health needs, behavioral health needs, and the need for treatment—these issues are outside the scope of what a law enforcement officer can easily address. I have seen that Sylva PD has had success with the Community Care Program at Western Carolina University. The program partners social workers and social work interns with local police departments and those social workers tackle the issues that contribute to homelessness and drug use. I would love to partner with WCU and the Community Care Program to bring social workers into the Sheriff’s Department. I would also like to sit down with local non-profits and get a feel for what they are seeing, what needs they are identifying, and how we can all partner to get better results for our community.
In addition to this I want to see my officers in highly visible patrol vehicles. I want them getting out of their cars, walking through communities, talking to community members, and getting to know the people we serve. Our visible presence will serve as a deterrent and our intimate knowledge of our community will make us better at solving crimes in a timely manner.
Areas of focus
That decision will be made based on a number of factors. One main factor being areas that are reporting high incidents of crime. Those areas would require an immediate uptick in patrol to get the problem under control. Another factor to consider would be high traffic areas, ensuring officers are present and visible at all hours of the day. Additionally, our contact with community members would be a large factor in helping determine what areas have the greatest need at any given time.
Departmental needs
The key will be sufficient financial support. The Sheriff’s Office needs updated equipment, better pay to keep officers, and funding for training. Some of this money can come from grants and outside funding such as Governors Crime Commission funds. Additionally, we need to leverage the Opioid Settlement Funds to support our endeavors.
Crime prevention
When I am in office the prevention will come in two main ways. One is visibility that I have mentioned already. Having officers out in the community and being seen will make an impact. Additionally, I would have monthly meetings with the community to make sure they know who their officers are and who to reach out to when they need help. The second is getting supports in place to help reduce recidivism. Most of our offenders are not going away for life. They come back to our community, and we need to find a way to make them a contributing member of our community.
Misconduct
All reports of misconduct will be handled and dealt with thoroughly. As other agencies do, I would partner with an outside agency to investigate any complaints. This would remove my office from involvement and create a neutral party to complete the investigation. I would require all officers to cooperate fully with all investigations and would not allow the withholding or covering up of information.
Public transparency
I will share any piece of information that I am legally allowed to share. Some investigations or criminal prosecutions cannot be made public without doing harm to the prosecution of the case. I would hold monthly community meetings to share updates on how our office is doing handling crime. Additionally, any internal investigations would result in a written finding and response to the complainant.
Building trust
The key to building trust with anyone is showing up and doing what you say you are going to do. Trust may not come immediately but my follow through on promises and timely response to concerns will show the members of the community that I can be relied upon.
Community outreach
We have a lack of community outreach and youth programs. I would like to bring in or expand local programs such as HIGHTS or Big Brothers Big Sisters and partner with them to develop our own explorer program that would allow youth to get a feel for the field of law enforcement.
Jail concerns
It is my understanding that there has been improvement in the conditions at the county jail. There is always room for more improvement. The jail needs more funding to upgrade and install needed equipment and to hire more staff. Staff and upgraded equipment are the key components for creating safety for officers and inmates.
Mental health & addictions
As noted above I would bring in medication assisted therapy and behavioral health therapists to the jail. The Sunrise program has been conducting groups in the jail with positive outcomes, but without funding. This service will have to eventually phase out if funding cannot be allocated to them. Additionally, I would partner with WCU and the Community Cares Program to ensure we have support on the outside for people as they transition out of jail.
Reducing repeat offenses
I’m not aware of any steps currently that are being taken. In addition to what I have already noted above, I have seen the EBCI have success with re-entry specialists. These individuals help people transition from jail to the community with better support in place which has an impact on recidivism.
Interagency cooperation
I would ensure we have the necessary MOU’s in place that lay out what our roles will be during an emergency. Additionally, I can see a benefit in all parties meeting monthly to ensure the MOU’s are continuing to meet our needs, address any areas of concern, and look for ways to partner on grant requests to get funds to benefit us all.
Brian Kirkland (R)
My name is Brian Kirkland, and I am a Republican candidate for Swain County Sheriff. I was raised in the Conley’s Creek community in Whittier and graduated from Swain High School in 1998. I completed Basic Law Enforcement Training at Southwestern Community College in 2000. I’m married to Sandra Price Kirkland, and we have four children. I am a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bryson City. In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my family, especially bass fishing.
Aspirations, experience and achievements
Law enforcement has been my entire adult career. I want to ensure the community I was born and raised in remains safe for all families. I love Swain County and the communities that make it such a special place. We truly live in one of the most beautiful areas on earth, and I want to protect it.
I am currently serving as the Sheriff of Swain County. Since being sworn in in July 2025, my focus has been on rebuilding trust with our citizens. One of my most meaningful achievements has been showing the men and women of the Swain County Sheriff’s Office how much their work matters. We have increased community presence, especially in areas with higher call volumes, and began modernizing operations to make deputies’ jobs more efficient and effective.
Making changes
One of the first changes I made was creating a Community Impact Team to address issues in neighborhoods with high call volumes and to increase patrols in areas that had not been receiving adequate coverage. I issued body cameras to all deputies to improve transparency and rebuild trust. I established a K‑9 unit by bringing in an experienced K‑9 deputy and a proven dog, which has already resulted in significant drug seizures. We acquired a drone to help locate fleeing suspects and assist with search‑and‑rescue operations. I renegotiated detention center contracts, saving taxpayer money and improving inmate quality of life. We expanded scam‑prevention education, especially for elderly residents. We launched a new Sheriff’s Office app to improve communication with the public. We are also working with Swain County Schools to bring back the D.A.R.E. program.
Public safety challenges
Our biggest challenge is staffing enough deputies to provide proper coverage. We average around 35 calls per day while also handling courthouse security, civil processes, detention center operations, and school safety. Drugs remain a major concern, both on our streets and in our schools. Increasing staffing, strengthening community partnerships, and expanding proactive drug enforcement are key to addressing these issues.
Areas of focus
We rely on call‑volume data and community input. We also aim to establish community watch programs in all neighborhoods.
Departmental needs
Adequate funding is essential. I maintain open communication with the county manager and the Board of Commissioners. Before presenting any request, we conduct thorough research to ensure it is necessary and cost‑effective.
Crime prevention
We focus on prevention through the Community Impact Team, scam‑awareness presentations, and increased community patrols. Active visibility is one of the strongest deterrents to crime.
Misconduct
All written complaints are fully investigated by administrative staff. The nature of the complaint and the findings of the investigation determine the next steps.
Public transparency
We promote transparency through body cameras, open communication, frequent community meetings, press releases, our new Sheriff’s Office app, and an open‑door policy. We also maintain regular communication with the District Attorney’s Office.
Building trust
Trust is built through open communication, frequent community meetings, and maintaining an open‑door policy. Listening to concerns and responding with action is essential.
Community outreach
We support high school and college internships, scam‑awareness presentations, and are exploring a summer explorer program for youth interested in public service. I also frequently participate in community meetings.
Jail concerns
Conditions are good, and we continue to make improvements. Recent upgrades include a new jail administrator, a new control board, updated locks and intercom systems, mold remediation, and full staffing in the detention center. We switched inmate phone providers, and each inmate now has a tablet for educational and communication purposes. We partnered with Sunrise Recovery to provide substance‑abuse and life‑skills support, and we recently celebrated our first graduation. Faith leaders have unrestricted access to meet with inmates who request spiritual guidance.
Mental health & addictions
We have brought in Sunrise Recovery peer support and are pursuing a contract with Appalachian Mountain Health to expand services.
Reducing repeat offenses
Our goal is to provide inmates with tools to change their lives. The programs we’ve implemented, especially Sunrise Recovery, are already making a difference. From our first graduating class, two inmates were accepted into long‑term rehabilitation programs.
Interagency cooperation
I maintain regular communication with the Bryson City and Cherokee Indian Police Chiefs to share information and work together on community safety. I also attend monthly meetings with Emergency Management, the fire chiefs, the fire marshal, and the EMS director. Strong communication is essential because we often work together on major incidents. In addition, I attend meetings with area sheriffs and participate in activities with the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association to ensure regional cooperation and information sharing.
David Southards (D)
My name is David Southards. I’m 55 years old. I was born and raised in Swain County and grew up in the Alarka Community. I’m married to Anjie Waters Southards and together we have five children and four grandchildren. We live in the Bryson Branch community and I’m a member of Victory Baptist Church. I graduated from Swain High School in 1988 and have an associate degree from Southwestern Community College. I enjoy hunting, fishing, bike riding, and camping. What I enjoy most is spending time with my family.
I have 28 years of experience in law enforcement. Eighteen of those years were with the Swain County Sheriff Dept. I also worked for WCU University Police and retired October of 2025 as the Assistant Chief of Andrews Police Department. I hold an advanced law enforcement certification and have over 1,000 hours of law enforcement training. I’ve overseen budgets, officer training, and scheduling. I hold certifications in BLET, detention officer, and was a telecommunicator. I have several years’ experience working with incident command and hold certifications in CIT training, active shooter, and community oriented policing just to name a few. I will be running for Sheriff on the Democratic ticket.
Aspirations, experience and achievements
My wife and I are vested in our community. We have our home here, our family live here, and our grandchildren attend school here. After purchasing our home on Bryson Branch Road we began to have concerns. We were victims of property crime twice in the first two years and felt the need to install cameras around our property. We found needles in our front yard and noticed people walking up and down the road at all hours of the day and night with very little officer presence. I think it’s important for all families to feel safe in their home. I believe the sheriff sets the tone for public safety in our community and should be an accountable leader who is committed to public safety.
I worked 18 years for the Swain County Sheriff’s office. My highest rank with the sheriff’s office was lieutenant over investigations. I worked everything from property to major crimes. I assisted in creating policy for both the jail and sheriff’s office. I helped reestablish the community watch program and was one of the first domestic violence officers in Swain County. As a domestic violence officer, I was one of the first officers to charge and convict stalking and conspiracy to commit first degree murder. Over 28 years I was able to achieve my basic, intermediate, and advanced law enforcement certifications. The advanced certification is the highest awarded by the state of North Carolina.
Making changes
I would like to restructure the department personnel to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. I would also like to designate an investigator for domestic violence cases in Swain County who would follow the case from initial contact through the final court proceedings. They would work closely with Swain and Cherokee domestic shelters and would be trained as a victim advocate. They would also assist in training other officers, work with the district attorneys, DSS, and social workers. I will put officers into three patrol zones. This will increase response times and officer visibility in the outlying areas of the county. I would offer free RAD (Rape, Aggression, Defense) classes quarterly to anyone interested in self-defense. I would like to offer programming to upcoming seniors in topics such as drug and alcohol prevention and how to make good decisions. I would like to get the budget under control by aligning spending with priorities, reducing inefficiencies, and monitoring results on a regular basis. I would like to improve community/department relationships by instituting coffee with a cop, shop with a cop, and a civilian resource committee. The resource committee would consist of individuals throughout the county meeting directly with the Sheriff monthly to report concerns in their specific community.
Public safety challenges
Small sheriff departments have serious public safety challenges due to limited staffing and resources. We need to strengthen support, improve coordination, and be smart with our budget. We don’t need to focus on spending more but spending smarter. We need to prioritize core public safety needs and make sure our money is going towards staffing, training and equipment that improves response and safety. Common concerns people speak about are drugs and the unhoused. We need to recognize law enforcement is not designed to solve these problems alone. Smart budgeting also focuses on prevention, treatment, and coordination to save money and improve public safety. I have worked with groups such as Mission of Hope Recovery and the Hope House located in Blairsville, Georgia. They are both faith based and provide assistance with basic necessities of life for residents, transits, and the homeless population. Funding is provided by individuals, state funding, and participating churches. I’ve spoken with members of these organizations, and they are willing to speak with law enforcement and community leaders about assisting in our community.
Areas of focus
Research shows a large percentage of crimes occur in limited locations (hot spots). I plan to use a combination of information to determine where to focus. Examples include crime mapping such as MDS or MDIS, cause for service analysis which evaluates a volume type and origin of calls for service, and community oriented policing. Community oriented policing focuses on prevention of crime before it happens and encourages community involvement.
Departmental needs
To operate a successful sheriff’s department comes down to the following. Personnel, equipment and technology, financial support, and operational costs. I believe we need to work with county grant writers to obtain grants. I have worked with grant writers in the past to obtain ballistic vests and other training equipment. These items elevate the need for taxpayer money. I would implement the LESS program (Law Enforcement Support) which provides excess department of defense equipment such as weapons, tactical equipment, and vehicles to local law enforcement agencies. It can also provide office equipment, training and support items at no cost.
Crime prevention
One of the biggest issues in Swain County is property crimes. I would have our officers conduct business checks throughout the county. This would include a bar code system where officers would scan a bar code placed at businesses which time stamps time, date, and name of the business. I will divide the county into three patrol zones where officers would stay in their zone the entirety of their shift. This will increase response times and provide more officer presence in outlying areas. I will prioritize visible patrols, surveillance in high-risk areas, implement community-oriented policing, and a civilian resource committee.
Misconduct
I believe you should first set expectations with staff from the very beginning. This includes ensuring everyone has access to polices. I have worked with Lexipol and PMAM HCM which are companies that help develop policy and learning as well as performance reviews. If policies are updated or new policies started the company ensures employees are notified. Policies and rules will apply to all employees without favoritism. I believe the sheriff needs to be approachable to the public without fear of retaliation, be a good listener, and maintain professionalism.
Public transparency
The best way to show transparency in any sheriff’s office is to be open and honest with the public. The department should share policy, crime data, budget info, and body cam protocols. The sheriff should educate the public on body cam footage. Body cam footage is not a public document and under GS statute 32-1.4A and are not public record. They can only be viewed by court order. The sheriff should be knowledgeable of the Freedom of Information Act and should make every attempt to inform the public of what information can and can’t be shared. The sheriff should publish annual reports on traffic stops and arrest data online. In the end, our goal should be to improve accountability and increased trust within the community.
Building trust
I believe one of the best training opportunities available to law enforcement is Community Oriented Policing. It is the philosophy of shifting law enforcement from reactive crime fighting to proactive problem solving. This focuses on preventing crime before it happens and encourages community integration. Law enforcement officers should establish relationships in the communities they patrol. The sheriff should attend community meetings and set up events to assist in developing community relationships.
Community outreach
When I decided to run for sheriff 12 months ago one of the programs I discussed with Smoky Mountain News was Shop With a Cop. This program had never existed in Swain County. I had participated in Shop With a Cop since 2017 in other counties. This program helps families see law enforcement in a positive light. I would also like to look into mentoring programs similar to Big Brothers/Big Sisters which pairs deputies with at risk youth for guidance and positive relationship building. I would like to see the SRO’s have a bigger role in our schools promoting positive choices, healthy lifestyles, and respect for law enforcement. I would like to sponsor athletic nights where people of all ages can come out and fellowship with one another while enjoying basketball, paddleball, etc. at the local recreation center. The goal is bridging the gap between law enforcement and our community.
Jail concerns
Since I’m not in the position to physically be in the jail to see the conditions, I’m answering this question based from the article by Lily Levin in the Smoky Mountain News. It was reported from 2017-2025 the jail had failed 13 of 16 biannual inspections. Violations were marked on sanitation and inadequate supervision. Sheriff Kirkland alleged the inadequate supervision was a result of the jail being “extremely understaffed.” We need to have our inmate ratio inline with staffing to avoid supervision violations. The sheriff needs to have a close working relationship with the jail administrator. We need to have scheduled maintenance to be proactive in keeping our jail safe and ensuring sanitation standards are met. It is important to be proactive due to civil liability; it will not be a matter of if we are sued but when.
Mental health and addiction
A proactive approach and staff education is imperative. The sooner we can identify an inmate with a history of mental health/addiction the better we are prepared to prevent any negative outcomes. Inmates with behavioral factors such as suicide watch require more frequent supervisory rounds. We need to be sure our jailors and staff are well trained on identifying potential concerns and de-escalation techniques. I would like to see MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) provided to inmates. I don’t believe we are currently doing this but we are responsible for administering MAT for anyone in custody who has been pre-prescribed treatment. Not doing so is a violation due to the Americans with Disabilities Act. I want to be sure inmates are offered overdose prevention education and coordinated discharge planning linking inmates to community care. I would like to continue with the Sunrise Recovery Program and would extend opportunities to any other facilities/programs.
Reducing repeat offenses
Through my years in law enforcement, I have arrested parents and later arrested their children, it is a vicious cycle. If we can help better their lives, we could prevent repeat offenders and improve public safety. I would like to introduce some educational programs such as GED classes, job skills, parenting, and literacy skills. Studies have shown that this reduces the odds of returning to jail by 43%. Government issued ID and documents ensuring they have social security cards, birth certificates, or ID cards upon release is critical for assessing jobs, housing, and healthcare.
Interagency cooperation
It is important for all agencies to understand each other’s roles. Joint training and drills would help develop teamwork and improve efficacy. It’s important to have a united command structure to ensure all responders work towards the same objectives.