PRESS RELEASE: Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Bean Sworn-in as Caldwell County Sheriff
On Friday, August 30, Kevin Bean was sworn in as Caldwell County’s 33rd Sheriff. He was appointed to the
position following the retirement of Sheriff Alan Jones.
“I am honored to be the Sheriff of Caldwell County,” said Sheriff Kevin Bean. “As Sheriff, it is my duty to
see that your lives and property are protected along with your constitutional rights through common
sense law enforcement aided with cutting-edge technology, dedication, and good old-fashioned hard
work. As your Sheriff, I have an open-door policy. If you see something we can do to better serve your
needs or your community’s needs, please come by my office and let me know.”
Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Bean served as Chief Deputy, the highest-ranking appointed officer at
the Sheriff’s Office, and oversaw the office’s daily operations. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2003,
Sheriff Bean has held every ranking position in the patrol division.
“During my two decades in law enforcement, I have spoken with and supported victims of practically
every type of crime including felonious assaults against my own coworkers. I plan to work side by side
with the citizens and my staff to maintain law and order in Caldwell County and look forward to
developing better relationships with our communities and to be accessible to the citizens of this great
county,” said Sheriff Bean. “The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is the office of the people, and I am
proud to be your Sheriff and your friend. I encourage all citizens to be aware of their surroundings and
report suspicious activity immediately. Together, we will make the great county of Caldwell a safer place
to live, work, and raise our families.”
Sheriff Bean’s training and experience include North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
Commission Intermediate Service Award and Advanced Service Award; First Line Supervision; Sheriffs
Leadership Academy; US Department of Homeland Security Incident Command System; North Carolina
State Highway Patrol Driving School; Guilford Community College Sniper/Observer; Crisis Intervention
Team; Police Law Institute; and implementing the Narcotics/Tracking K9 program. Sheriff Bean was also
named Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office Officer of the Year in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Sheriff Bean, a lifelong resident of Caldwell County, pursued a career in law enforcement when the
furniture industry declined in the early 2000s. He worked during the day and put himself through Basic
Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at night. Upon completion of BLET, he started working as a reserve
deputy under Sheriff Gary Clark.
Raised in Hudson, NC, Sheriff Bean was born to Reverend Harold and Juanita Bean. He grew up hunting
and fishing, which he still enjoys today. Sheriff Bean has developed a strong commitment to the right to
keep and bear arms.
“As your Sheriff I will uphold and defend everyone’s constitutional rights including the right to bear arms. I
will recognize personal property rights and continue to fight the flow of illegal drugs into our county,”
Sheriff Bean said.
position following the retirement of Sheriff Alan Jones.
“I am honored to be the Sheriff of Caldwell County,” said Sheriff Kevin Bean. “As Sheriff, it is my duty to
see that your lives and property are protected along with your constitutional rights through common
sense law enforcement aided with cutting-edge technology, dedication, and good old-fashioned hard
work. As your Sheriff, I have an open-door policy. If you see something we can do to better serve your
needs or your community’s needs, please come by my office and let me know.”
Prior to his appointment, Sheriff Bean served as Chief Deputy, the highest-ranking appointed officer at
the Sheriff’s Office, and oversaw the office’s daily operations. Since joining the Sheriff’s Office in 2003,
Sheriff Bean has held every ranking position in the patrol division.
“During my two decades in law enforcement, I have spoken with and supported victims of practically
every type of crime including felonious assaults against my own coworkers. I plan to work side by side
with the citizens and my staff to maintain law and order in Caldwell County and look forward to
developing better relationships with our communities and to be accessible to the citizens of this great
county,” said Sheriff Bean. “The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office is the office of the people, and I am
proud to be your Sheriff and your friend. I encourage all citizens to be aware of their surroundings and
report suspicious activity immediately. Together, we will make the great county of Caldwell a safer place
to live, work, and raise our families.”
Sheriff Bean’s training and experience include North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
Commission Intermediate Service Award and Advanced Service Award; First Line Supervision; Sheriffs
Leadership Academy; US Department of Homeland Security Incident Command System; North Carolina
State Highway Patrol Driving School; Guilford Community College Sniper/Observer; Crisis Intervention
Team; Police Law Institute; and implementing the Narcotics/Tracking K9 program. Sheriff Bean was also
named Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office Officer of the Year in 2014, 2016, and 2017.
Sheriff Bean, a lifelong resident of Caldwell County, pursued a career in law enforcement when the
furniture industry declined in the early 2000s. He worked during the day and put himself through Basic
Law Enforcement Training (BLET) at night. Upon completion of BLET, he started working as a reserve
deputy under Sheriff Gary Clark.
Raised in Hudson, NC, Sheriff Bean was born to Reverend Harold and Juanita Bean. He grew up hunting
and fishing, which he still enjoys today. Sheriff Bean has developed a strong commitment to the right to
keep and bear arms.
“As your Sheriff I will uphold and defend everyone’s constitutional rights including the right to bear arms. I
will recognize personal property rights and continue to fight the flow of illegal drugs into our county,”
Sheriff Bean said.
Sheriff Alan Jones Retires Leaving Legacy of High Training Standards
Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones retired August 30 and left a legacy of high training standards and making education a priority for his deputies and staff.
“I always knew training was essential, and it has been one of my top priorities,” said Sheriff Jones. “These guys cannot get enough training, and although I’m retiring, I’m going to continue making sure you get trained and trained well.”
Sheriff Jones, who was appointed to his role in 2007, led by example when it came to training. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration both from Appalachian State University. He completed North Carolina’s Sheriff’s Leadership School from both UNC Chapel Hill and Duke University as well as the FBI National Academy and the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville.
“Sheriff Jones understands that a well-trained and knowledgeable workforce is essential for effective law enforcement and community service,” said Caldwell County Board of Commissioners Chairman Randy Church. “His diversified and relevant knowledge has enabled him to tackle complex challenges with innovative problem-solving skills, always seeking cooperative solutions that benefit the entire community.”
Sheriff Jones not only prioritizes training for his deputies, but also deputy sheriffs, detention officers, and telecommunicators statewide as a chair of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Education and Training Standards Commission, which he as served on since 2012. He has been an active member of the NC Sheriff’s Association and has mentored newly elected Sheriffs. Sheriff Jones has also given his time to teach and expand basic law enforcement programs at Appalachian State University, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute, and Wilkes Community College.
In addition to having a well-trained staff, Sheriff Jones created a culture of innovation. He was an early adopter of tools like in-car cameras, mobile data terminals, body cameras, community watch programs, flock cameras, and three-dimensional crime scene mapping. Sheriff Jones also helped create the first hybrid animal care enforcement department in the state.
“Sheriff Jones has been a stellar part of our community and has always taken care of the residents in Caldwell County,” said Commissioner Church.
Sheriff Jones joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2003 and served as Chief Deputy for four years. As Chief Deputy, he oversaw the daily operation of the Sheriff’s Office and prioritization of work throughout the organization. Prior to his work at the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Jones served with the Lenoir Police Department from 1988-2003. At LPD, he was one of the youngest officers ever to be promoted to Lieutenant.
Sheriff Jones retired with more than 17 ½ years as the county’s top law enforcement officer, making him the longest serving Sheriff in Caldwell County.
“It’s been hard, but it’s been a very rewarding career. The Good Lord Above has blessed me because there’s no way I could have made it without Him and my family,” said Sheriff Jones.