Sheriff Lane Carter Will Retire May 1
Sheriff Lane Carter Photo by John Chappell.
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Moore County will have a new sheriff on May Day. Sheriff Lane Carter will retire effective May 1, his office confirmed today. Carter was out of the office and could not be reached, but gave his notice in a letter to Nick Picerno, chairman of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.
“After much thought and prayer, I have decided to retire effective May 1st, 2013,” the sheriff said. “Moore County has been very good to me over the past 34 years and it has been my pleasure to serve the citizens of Moore County. While I look forward to enjoying my retirement, I will miss working with the county.
“I sincerely appreciate the support that you and the other commissioners have provided to the Sheriff's Office during my tenure as sheriff. If I can be of any assistance during this transition, please let me know.”
Carter asked Picerno to accept the letter as his resignation from the office of Sheriff of Moore County effective May 1, 2013.
“I started Oct. 16, 1978, under Sheriff C.T. Wimberley,” Carter said Thursday afternoon, reflecting on his years in office. “Whipple came in after Wimberley, and then Wise was sheriff for 16 years, and then Johnson. There have been a lot of changes in this profession in 34 years. There isn't any doubt they have been improvements. There are systems available to us today that weren’t around in the 1970s and even in the 90s.”
When Frank Johnson chose not to seek reelection, Carter – his chief deputy – filed. Voters elected him for the first time in 2002 and reelected him in 2006 and again in 2010. He doesn't have any particular plans for retirement.
“Fish a little bit, tend my grandbabies, do just exactly what I want to do every day,” Carter said, chuckling. “I have got a sawmill, and I will do a lot of that I’m sure. I put in enough time five or six years ago; I'm just retiring now – it is just time to go. Sheriffs don’t make the office; people in the office make the sheriff’s office. I have a lot of great people who do a great job, and I am sure that will continue.”
At its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night the Moore County Republican Party's executive committee recommended that county commissioners appoint Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey to succeed Carter in office. In some North Carolina counties the county coroner acts as sheriff in the event of a sudden vacancy in the office until the county board appoints a successor. Moore County did away with the office of coroner some years ago, so here the outgoing sheriff's political party nominates someone for consideration for appointment to the office.
Political party recommendations are usually binding on county commissioners.
“If the sheriff were elected as a nominee of a political party, the board of commissioners shall consult the county executive committee of that political party before filling the vacancy, and shall elect the person recommended by the county executive committee of that party, if the party makes a recommendation within 30 days of the occurrence of the vacancy,” state law (statute 162-5-1) says.
Carter will remain in office until May, so the Republican Party did not actually make its recommendation “within 30 days” of the vacancy. That would seem to leave county commissioners a free choice, though they – all Republicans themselves – are expected to follow the executive committee’s choice. They will likely elect Godfrey to fill the remainder of Carter’s unexpired term at their next regular meeting. The next public election for sheriff takes place in 2014.
Godfrey, a Republican Party precinct chair, is well known to all the committee members and was their choice without objection, county party chairman Robert Levy said.
Levy said he doesn’t believe county commissioners are bound to accept their recommendations but believes they will.
“I would be very, very surprised if the commissioners wouldn’t follow that recommendation,” Levy said. “Neil Godfrey has been the chief administrator of the department for awhile – he is a hands-on person. While Sheriff Carter was doing various things he does as sheriff, Neil was taking care of many every day matters with the sheriff’s department and also interfacing with the commission. Politically, we just wanted to make sure there is a good, competent sheriff and would remain a Republican. We trust Neil to do everything necessary and do it properly. There is only so far that politics should go into a sheriff’s office. It should never be a major portion.”
Godfrey, reached in his office Wednesday afternoon for a brief interview, was humbled by the party’s choosing him to succeed Carter.
“It is a great honor – a great honor for the executive committee to think so highly of me,” Godfrey said Wednesday afternoon. “I will make every effort to perform at that level. I don’t see anything will be any different. We are going to keep this one of the best sheriff’s offices in North Carolina. This is a very professional department, and that’s the way it will continue to operate.”
Godfrey was formerly with the State Bureau of Investigation. After his retirement from that agency, Carter tapped him as his chief deputy. That had been his own last post under Sheriff Johnson before winning election to office.
About Lane Carter
“This story is really about Lane,” Godfrey said, praising the sheriff's accomplishments. “He started out as a deputy back in 1971,” he said. “He rose through the ranks. He served in just about every capacity here at the sheriff’s office. He was road deputy, investigator, worked drug investigations, was supervisor of investigations. He was captain of investigations right before he became chief deputy. He had quite a bit of experience and training. Lane was a very good leader and always provided support and resources to his people to enable them to do the best job that they could do.”
The new Rick Rhyne Public Safety Center will be a major legacy of Carter’s tenure as sheriff, Godfrey said. So many aspects affecting safety for the people of Moore County will be improved when it opens.
“Look at the 911 center – operating in a basement!” he said. “The same thing with our investigators – now they will have office space to properly access and store evidence, to interview victims and witnesses and suspects. The building is designed to be very functional, has some of the latest technology. We hope to open around the first of April.”
Carter will have barely a month in his new office before he retires from law enforcement and his resignation as sheriff takes effect.
“He accomplished a lot while sheriff,” Godfrey said, mentioning not only the new center but Carter’s success in helping Moore County get its own prosecutorial district and district attorney. He expects to wait until he is sheriff before naming a new chief deputy.
“I think so,” he said. “It would be appropriate to do.”
See Friday's edition of The Pilot for the full story.
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Comments
Courseaire 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Does this mean that Chief Deputy Neil Godfrey gets to take his bullet out of his pocket?
rightwingpatriot 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Pilot not Resign he is retiring. you make it look like he's leaving in a scandal
lakeview 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Congrats Sheriff. Job well done !
djcalaska 4 months, 2 weeks ago
He has done an exceptional job for the county. Best wishes for the retirement. Retiring from that job has got to be a stress reliever...
clodfelter37 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Hate to see him go. I think he do a fine job, but glad we have Neil Godfrey to take over.
statelady 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I agree!!! When I read "resigns" I was shocked!!! Retires is a much better word for such a great sheriff!! Congratulations!
JohnChappell 4 months, 2 weeks ago
The sheriff used both words in his letter "of resignation."
Mozambique 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I don't know the sheriff personally, but I've always been impressed with MCSO. That typically speaks volumes about the character and leadership of the man at the top. Time for him to learn how to fly fish. Enjoy life, bro.
JDWoodard 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Best wishes to you and your family Sheriff Carter. You have done an excellent job in moving Moore County law enforcement forward. Enjoy some time on the farm my friend.
Yukonjohn 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Best Wishes Lane!! Congratulations for such a fantastic career. I have not been around to see you in years, but think back on our high school years from time to time. Seems like last week we were graduating, and now we are both retiring!! Sending wishes for a long, fruitful, enjoyable retirement. Good Luck!!
FightFireWithFire 4 months, 2 weeks ago
I am both sad and glad to see our Sheriff retiring.
I have said to many friends this year that "2013 will bring new and exciting things for us.
I never expected this, but as the statement goes: "all good things must come to an end".
Congratulations on your retirement, sir. You have served your county well!
NORBVR 4 months, 1 week ago
When Sheriff Carter stated with a straight face that he had never heard of Operation Robin Sage or Pineland in all his years, I was saddened. I feel he was less than forth coming during that awful tragedy that forever marred the Moore County support of the military. It was a dark day for all involved.
Toda 4 months, 1 week ago
What sets Sheriff Carter apart from other Sheriff's is his personal experiences. Supervising subordinates is one aspect that resounds with Carter since he has personal knowledge of what line personnel experience on a daily basis. He is probably one of the last Sheriffs who didn't have a college degree. Back in '71, a new hire would get a gun and a badge and start patrolling the streets and towns in the county.
concerned1 4 months, 1 week ago
Why does this job have to be a political one? Why do we have to appoint the next sheriff from the same political party? Shouldn't it go to a qualified person and not just someone who is a member of the same party? Does that mean that a county resident who is a member of the opposite party may not receive the same consideration as a citizen who is a member of the party in power if two crimes were committed at the same time? Is this what we've come down to? I would have thought fighting crime was in the best interest of everyone and not leaning towards decisions made by one political party. How sad we've become.
bigD 4 months, 1 week ago
Who hijacked Todas account?
MLD206 4 months, 1 week ago
Congratulations to Sheriff Carter, a very fine and professional man. I hope you enjoy your retirement. I wish the best to whomever takes the position and know that Chief Godfrey is highly qualified to assume the role. We will miss Sheriff Carter.
Toda 4 months, 1 week ago
bigD => You made a funny bigD... ironically I have known Lane for over 30 years. You will be hard pressed to find one negative comment I've made about him. I have commented on the Gold Bar Hilton, until I was informed that the county manager operates the jail for what ever reason. Makes no sense to me. But I like your thought!
Toda 4 months, 1 week ago
concerned1 => I share your thoughts as well. The Sheriff's Department is highly politicized. The position should be independent and without nepotism. It's all about who you know as opposed to what you know and educational achievements.
Thatcher 4 months, 1 week ago
Lane is a great man. Best wishes for a happy retirement, and job well done. Cheers!