PENDER COUNTY — Pender County residents will see more officers on patrol starting in 2026 after commissioners voted to fund additional positions and equipment.
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In a 3-0 vote on Nov. 17 — with Chair Randy Burton and Commissioner Brad George absent — Pender County leaders approved a $915,318 budget amendment, as requested by the sheriff’s office. The total amount covers eight vehicles, upfitting, and equipment for four deputy positions whose salaries and benefits were already approved in the current budget, as well as the creation of four additional patrol deputy positions. The new deputies will start Jan. 1, 2026.
Funding specifically includes about $408,000 for the purchase of eight 2025 Chevrolet 1500 patrol trucks and approximately $226,000 to outfit them with necessary emergency lighting, in-car computers, and push bumpers. The remainder covers $112,000 for individual equipment (body armor, weapons, radios) and salaries and benefits for the four newly created deputy positions. The expenditure will be drawn from the county’s general fund balance.
The request is driven by staffing challenges at Pender County Sheriff’s Office, exacerbated by the county’s rapid growth. In the last 14 years, Pender County’s population has gone from 52,000 in 2010 to an estimated 70,000 in 2024, landing as North Carolina’s second-fastest growing county.
During this year’s budget discussions, Sheriff Alan Cutler stated patrol coverage is limited, running at a ratio of approximately one deputy for every 10,000 citizens — below the FBI national average of 2.5 officers per 1,000. The vacancies forced the county to spend over $800,000 on deputy overtime during Fiscal Year 2024-2025 to maintain sufficient coverage.
With eight new patrol deputy positions now approved, the number of deputies on each shift is projected to increase from six to eight, alongside a patrol sergeant. Although still below the FBI average, this improves the officer-to-citizen ratio to approximately 1 deputy per 2,500 citizens.
During this week’s meeting, Commissioner Jimmy Tate questioned Cutler on why the request for eight positions was not asked for earlier in the year during annual budget discussions. The sheriff’s office had initially requested all eight patrol positions during a budget workshop in the spring, but the number was cut down to four before final approval due to overall fiscal constraints.
Cutler justified the re-introduction of the full request by stating the necessity of acting immediately to keep up with growth and beat rising vehicle costs. Cutler informed commissioners more needs exist, but reiterated the patrol positions represent the most urgent for the office at this time.
“I kind of look at it as patching a hole in the boat and then we can work on the rest of it,” Cutler said.
Tate implored the sheriff to come back with a comprehensive list and questioned why other deficiencies were not included in the current request. Cutler noted staffing the new Law Enforcement Center, to open next fall, will require 10 to 15 new detention officers.
Expanding on his procedural concerns, Tate contended that approving a large amount for one department months after the budget was adopted would force commissioners to “open it up for everybody.” Commissioners typically start work on the annual budget in a short, intensive window spanning from April through June.
“It’s not really fair to the other department heads because then they begin to look at how they get something approved past the budget process time, and another person comes back to us later and not get that same request honored,” Tate said.
Commissioner Jerry Groves made the motion to approve, but Tate suggested the motion be delayed and asked Cutler if he would wait to present a list of all needs to the full board at a later meeting. Tate’s push to delay the vote was immediately challenged by Vice Chair Brent Springer, who insisted waiting jeopardized public safety.
“Commissioner Tate, you do realize you’re putting security on a hold as well doing this, to develop a comprehensive plan,” Springer said. “He’s presented what he has and I would ask either to move forward or deny.”
Despite his concerns, Tate seconded the motion and all three commissioners voted in favor.
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