Halifax County commissioners this morning appointed former Enfield town administrator Tyree Davis to fill the unexpired term of Wes Tripp as the new county sheriff.
Tripp’s retirement was effective July 1 but his elected term does not expire until the first Monday in December, County Attorney Glynn Rollins told the board.
Davis won the Democratic nomination for sheriff in the May 17 primary, beating out challengers Scott Hall, who served as Tripp’s chief deputy, and former North Carolina State Highway Patrol sergeant Jimmie Silver.
Commissioner Patrick Qualls made the motion to appoint Davis as sheriff. “Enfield has become a much better place since Tyree has been a part of the police department and then the council. I think he’s going to make a great sheriff that we can all work with.”
Qualls said he has already had conversations with Davis, who before taking on the town administrator position was police chief. “I think he wants to have a relationship with us. I think he’s going to be a sheriff that enjoys a relationship with his board.”
Mentioning the “great job he’s done in Enfield,” Qualls moved forward with the motion and Commissioner Carolyn Johnson cast the second. The motion, with Rives Manning and John Smith absent, passed.
Board Chair Vernon Bryant echoed Qualls’s comments about Davis and said that Smith and Manning supported the appointment. “We look forward to your leadership in the county and I’m very confident that you will serve this county well. You’re going to make all of us proud and we’re going to work along with you in making this county much safer.”
Davis thanked the board for the appointment. “I’ve already been talking with a lot of the county commissioners and will work with them, (County Manager Dia) Ms. Denton and her staff, and so far we have a great working relationship. We want to keep it that way.”
Davis said he also met with the police chiefs throughout the area as well as sheriffs in other counties. “I’ve even met with a lot of staff at the sheriff’s office and we’re all ready to hit the ground running and move forward. Safety and security is our top priority and that’s what we’re going to do.”
Johnson told Davis, “I’m very proud of you. I’m looking forward to an excellent relationship and I think our county is going to be much better because you are now the sheriff there.”
Davis will be sworn in later this afternoon at the Halifax County Courthouse Complex on Ferrell Lane.
