Alamance County sheriff outlines rising call volume, staffing shortfalls and narcotics enforcement

Sheriff Terry Johnson told the Alamance County Board of Commissioners on Monday that his office answered 89,018 calls in 2024 and is operating with persistent staffing shortages even as the agency expands specialized units handling narcotics, child exploitation and multi‑jurisdiction task forces.

Johnson said the county averaged about 243.8 calls per day last year and reported several operational metrics that he said are straining resources: 1,132,000 miles driven by patrol units in 2024; 4,972 traffic stops; 29 vehicle pursuits; and an average daily detention population of about 348 inmates. He also said the detention center is overcrowded relative to its intended capacity, which he described as about 376.

The sheriff framed the recent narcotics and gang enforcement work as driven by the county's interstate access. "DEA says Alamance County is a drug hub of the Southeastern United States simply because of our two major interstates," Johnson said. He described cooperative investigations with federal partners — the ATF, FBI and DEA — and local multiagency groups including an Alamance narcotics enforcement team (ANET) and a strike team that has worked with neighboring counties.

Johnson summarized the sheriff's office structure and specialized units, noting the department's Invictus unit for internet crimes against children, an intelligence division, a federal task‑force presence and a special response team (SRT). He described recent results: seizures of multi‑kilogram drug shipments, multiple firearms seized during investigations, and arrests tied to gang activity. "We have gangs here," he said. "If we don't keep the heat turned up on them, guess what? It's not gonna get any better."

On cyber and child exploitation work, Johnson said his Invictus unit has worked tips across county lines and credited multiagency cooperation for arrests and recoveries. He described use of forensic downloads and electronic intelligence to expand investigations up the chain of trafficking and distribution. "If you got a cell phone on you, we take that cell phone. We download everything on that cell phone, and we know who your contact is above you," he said.

Johnson described technology investments that he said increase operational capacity: a 24/7 drone capability (11 drones including thermal and tactical units, and 25 FAA‑certified pilots), an evidence storage challenge linked to case retention rules, and a bullet‑resistant barricade purchased with federal drug money used in SRT operations.

He also addressed staffing. The sheriff said the office had 45 total vacancies across divisions, including about 32 detention positions (versus 70 vacancies earlier), several investigator and patrol vacancies, and multiple court security positions that remain unfilled because of budget timing. "We're getting eaten alive on calls," Johnson said, and added that recruiting improvements have reduced some vacancies but that retention and hiring remain ongoing challenges.

Johnson discussed the ICE contract and detainees: he said the county regularly receives ICE detainees for short holds and that negotiations over a per‑diem rate were underway. "We're right now — we were supposed to have done in January — but we've held off," he said of contract negotiations. County staff later told commissioners the per‑diem rate (not the contract itself) is being renegotiated and that management plans to bring the components of the contract back for review.

On 9‑1‑1 dispatching, Johnson told the board an interlocal agreement to move to a single software platform will be presented next month; he said that platform change would improve interoperability among agencies and that full joint operations are a later phase. "We're bringing you an interlocal agreement in the next month," he said.

Commissioners asked about pursuit policy, 911 consolidation, the role of the sheriff's patrols and the department's community outreach such as the Citizens Academy. Johnson said pursuit training and intervention techniques are in place and emphasized safety priorities. He closed by urging continued investment in law enforcement resources and acknowledging planned public events and operations with municipal partners.

The presentation included no formal board vote; commissioners praised the office while asking staff to continue budget and staffing discussions ahead of upcoming budget deadlines.