Clemmons

Clemmons

<p>Daily Journal File Photo</p>
                                <p>Sheriff James Clemmons speaks at the Stop the Violence March in Dobbins Heights in July. </p>

Daily Journal File Photo

Sheriff James Clemmons speaks at the Stop the Violence March in Dobbins Heights in July.

<p>Daily Journal file photo</p>
                                <p>Clemmons speaks at the first Unity Walk which sought to bring people together in the wake of the George Floyd protests in summer 2020.</p>

Daily Journal file photo

Clemmons speaks at the first Unity Walk which sought to bring people together in the wake of the George Floyd protests in summer 2020.

<p>Daily Journal file photo</p>
                                <p>Sheriff Clemmons is sworn in as a commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice by Attorney General William Barr in January 2020.</p>

Daily Journal file photo

Sheriff Clemmons is sworn in as a commissioner on the Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice by Attorney General William Barr in January 2020.

<p>Clemmons</p>

Clemmons

<p>Daily Journal file photo</p>
                                <p>Sheriff James Clemmons greets a boy who bought a bike during the first ever Shop with a Deputy Walmart shopping spree in December 2020. Deputies accompanied a group of kids in need on holiday shopping sprees.</p>

Daily Journal file photo

Sheriff James Clemmons greets a boy who bought a bike during the first ever Shop with a Deputy Walmart shopping spree in December 2020. Deputies accompanied a group of kids in need on holiday shopping sprees.

<p>A Richmond County Sheriff’s Office patrol car sits adorned with a wreath of white roses on the steps of the old Richmond County Courthouse in honor of Sheriff James Clemmons.</p>
                                 <p>Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal</p>

A Richmond County Sheriff’s Office patrol car sits adorned with a wreath of white roses on the steps of the old Richmond County Courthouse in honor of Sheriff James Clemmons.

Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal

<p>The old Richmond County Courthouse flags were lowered to half-staff Thursday.</p>
                                 <p>Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal</p>

The old Richmond County Courthouse flags were lowered to half-staff Thursday.

Neel Madhavan | Daily Journal

<p>Clemmons</p>

Clemmons

ROCKINGHAM — Sheriff James Clemmons passed away of natural causes at his home in Rockingham Thursday morning, according to county leadership.

Clemmons, 60, was first hired as a patrol deputy for the Sheriff’s Office in 1989, and was then promoted from Lieutenant, to Captain, and then as Major before being elected as Sheriff in 2011. Clemmons served as president of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association from ‘18-‘19, chaired the Executive Committee from ‘19-‘20, and was a vice president of the association from ‘14-‘18.

Richmond County government offered condolences in a post on their official Facebook page.

“It is with deep sadness and heavy hearts that we inform you of the death of our colleague and friend, Sheriff James ‘Clem’ Clemmons, who passed away unexpectedly while at home this morning,” the post read. “We will all miss him more than any words can express. He was not just our co-worker, but a great friend to all and an awesome leader in our Community.”

The post continued, “Please keep our Deputies, coworkers, staff and most of all Sheriff Clemmons’ family in your thoughts and prayers.”

Chief Deputy Mark Gulledge, who has worked closely with the sheriff, asked for the public to keep Clemmons’ family and the members of the Sheriff’s Office in their prayers. He added that details on the services to honor Clemmons will be forthcoming.

“Sheriff Clemmons touched the lives of many people,” Gulledge said in a statement. “He was a true man of faith, dedication and integrity.”

The news of Clemmons’ passing came as a shock to Hamlet Police Chief Dennis Brown, who had just begun his relationship with Clemmons in April after coming to Hamlet from Hertford.

“The loss of Sheriff Clemmons came as a shock to the entire police department. His loss is immeasurable. Sheriff Clemmons always had a warm and compassionate way that bridged idealistic divides to find a common ground,” Brown said in a text Thursday. “He was consistently ready and willing to help no matter what we needed. Everyday our sheriff demonstrated what is right and ethical. Our prayers are with his family and all residents of Richmond County. He will be missed.”

Eddie Caldwell, executive vice president and general counsel of North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, said that Clemmons’ passing is a “tremendous loss” that will be felt by law enforcement throughout the state.

“Sheriff James Clemmons was an outstanding and long-time leader of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, he held many leadership roles, and was a friend to everyone, was always a voice for doing the right thing and doing it professionally,” Caldwell said. “His passing will be a tremendous loss for all of us affiliated with the association, whether it’s sheriffs and staff, and numerous law enforcement professionals all across the state.”

Condolences poured in from the public in the comment section of the county’s Facebook post. Among them was Wayne Goodwin, former Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party and the former Insurance Commissioner for North Carolina, who recalled a special moment between Clemmons and Goodwin’s wife, Melanie, who recently passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“Just learned the very sad, tragic news. Tremendous loss for Richmond County and law enforcement. Hurts greatly to lose a dear friend,” Goodwin wrote. “I will never forget the special surprise final birthday video message the Sheriff made for my wife Melanie before she passed last year. Prayers to all Clem’s loved ones and colleagues.”

Clemmons represented the Association on the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission, and was very active on the Legislative Committee, according to Caldwell. He was also a part of the working group that produced the Association’s “Report on Law Enforcement Professionalism” released in October 2020 which came out of a desire to ensure the “protection of the rights and safety of all citizens” following the death of George Floyd in police custody.

Clemmons was named to President Donald Trump’s Presidential Commission on Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice in January 2020, which was formed with the goal of “exploring modern issues affecting law enforcement that most impact the ability of American policing to reduce crime.”

Then in July 2020, Governor Roy Cooper appointed Clemmons as a sheriff representative to the new North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, which has since put out 125 recommendations for best practices for law enforcement for the state.

In what may have been his last public appearance, Clemmons spoke at the Stop the Violence March in Dobbins Heights last month.. Speaking in the context of the ongoing debate about how law enforcement conduct themselves while still addressing crime, Clemmons said the solution to violence in our communities is not to “arrest our way” out of the problem, but rather to renew focus on strengthening families.

“We all know somebody in this community that is suffering, we all know what our children are doing. We know what our nieces and nephews are into, we know who their friends are. Half of them are carrying guns they got from us,” Clemmons said. “Let’s stop the violence by strengthening the family. Let’s stop the violence by getting together and being that neighbor that speaks out on what they see and know that it’s wrong.”

To support the Richmond County Daily Journal, subscribe at https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/subscribe or call 910-817-3111.

Reach Gavin Stone at 910-817-2673 or [email protected].