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Haywood County sheriff details equipment upgrades, credits grants for drones, body armor and technology
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Summary
Sheriff Bill Wilkie told the board he has replaced all expired soft body armor with Level 3A vests, deployed upgraded body cameras and expanded drone and tactical assets largely through grants; he said those changes coincided with drops in larceny and response times.
Sheriff Bill Wilkie reported to the Haywood County Board of Commissioners that his office has completed a series of equipment and administrative upgrades intended to improve deputy safety and response. Wilkie said the office has replaced 100% of its expired soft body armor with Level 3A vests, added rifle plates and Level 3 helmets for ‘‘day of days’’ response scenarios, and begun planning a full replacement cycle in 2026 for aging hard plates.
Wilkie described the reasoning behind the upgrades and gave a concrete example: an officer struck on July 3, 2023, was saved by in-date Level 3A armor when a 44 Magnum round was stopped. ‘‘Had he had 2 level 2 armor, the likelihood of it stopping the bullet would have been much less,’’ Wilkie said. He said deputies told him they were ‘‘grateful and thankful’’ for the increased protection.
The sheriff said the department deployed Motorola body cameras (the v700 model) and is rolling out an administrative tracking system called Essential Personnel, funded through a North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police grant. He described Essential Personnel as software that tracks employees, equipment and certifications and provides alerts before items expire, improving planning and compliance with state reporting requirements tied to officer wellness and use-of-force incidents.
Wilkie also described an expanding drone program and a Lenco BearCat vehicle that had been purchased before his tenure and later refurbished. He said funding for equipment has come from a mix of grants, donations and asset-forfeiture funds; he cited a DPS grant of roughly $80,000–$85,000 and said the county’s direct outlay for the BearCat was about $12,000. He said some drones were purchased with a Walmart grant and others came from a private donor and the Department of Agriculture.
On less-lethal tools, Wilkie said the office now issues TASER 7 devices and has an in-house instructor for training and annual recertification; he said 42 deputies and 31 detention officers are certified. He emphasized that tasers are ‘‘less than lethal’’ tools used in some scenarios but not a substitute for other options.
Wilkie linked the equipment and management changes to operational results: he said the county saw ‘‘over 40%’’ decreases in total larceny and a 17% reduction in average call-response time in his first two years in office. He also described a reintegration program that has helped ‘‘over 20 folks’’ transition away from repeated jail cycles. Wilkie acknowledged his roster has three vacancies but said morale and staffing stability have improved.
Board members praised the focus on public safety and asked about standards for equipment decisions; Wilkie said standards are a mix of national guidance, peer practice and local judgment. He told commissioners he appreciated their budget cooperation and credited department staff and budget analysts for finding grant and funding options.
Looking ahead, Wilkie said the department will continue to pursue grants and planned equipment replacements and will maintain training and tracking to avoid lapses in certifications or expired protective gear.
