ELECT REGGIE WATSON - CLICK HERE TO DONATE

My name is Reggie Watson, and I am asking for your support to serve as the next Sheriff of Harnett County.

I am an Army Veteran with over twenty-one years of military service and nearly five decades dedicated to law enforcement and public service. I began my career as a Military Police, where I learned the values of discipline, accountability, and service to others, values that have guided every role I have held since.

After leaving the military, I continued serving my community with the Town of Spring Lake, where my military training helped me successfully transition into civilian law enforcement. Wanting to do more, I applied to the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles and was accepted into the academy, becoming a DMV Enforcement Officer and later an instructor, helping train and mentor new officers entering the profession.

Following the attacks of September 11th, my National Guard unit was activated in support of Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom, where I proudly served our country until February 2004. When I returned home, the DMV and North Carolina Highway Patrol merged, and I became a North Carolina State Trooper after completing the 8th Highway Patrol Transition School.

In 2014, I retired believing my law enforcement career had come to an end. Using my post-9/11 GI Bill, I pursued further education to continue serving in a different capacity. During this time, I earned multiple qualifications including Microsoft Technology Associate for Mobility and Device Fundamentals, and Windows Operating System Fundamentals as well as becoming certified in CompTIA A+ and Server+. Once qualified, I worked at Womack Army Medical Center in the Information Management Division.

Once again, I transitioned and began working with Security Forces at Womack Army Medical Center. This role was one of the most demanding, high-risk environments I have ever worked in. I was personally involved in de-escalating all possible threats posed by highly skilled military personnel (Special Forces) brought in for treatment in mental health crises (PTSD). Drawing on my extensive training and experience, I consistently de-escalated patients safely and effectively, resolving volatile situations while preserving life and dignity.

In May 2025, I retired for the third time, bringing nearly fifty years of service to a close.

CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FULL RESUME, AWARDS, AND CERTIFICATIONS

Harnett County is not just where I live, it is who I am.

I have lived here my entire life. I raised my family here. I served this community for decades. I know its people, its challenges, and its strengths because I have lived them alongside you.

In 2022, I ran for Sheriff of Harnett County because I believed then, as I do now, that this office should be led with integrity, accountability, and respect for both the public and the deputies who serve them. That campaign was not about ambition; it was about responsibility and love for this county.

I did not walk away from that belief. I stayed engaged, I stayed involved, and I continued listening to citizens, deputies, and families across Harnett County. When the current Sheriff announced his retirement, I felt a renewed sense of duty to step forward once again, not because the timing was convenient, but because the responsibility remains.

Why I’m Running

I am running for Sheriff because I believe Harnett County deserves leadership that restores trust, reduces conflict, and protects everyone.

Our deputies deserve:

• Strong leadership
• Proper training
• Fair pay
• Transparency
• Support from the top

Our citizens deserve:

• Professional & respectful policing
• Accountability without intimidation
• Safer neighborhoods
• Fewer lawsuits and less division

As Sheriff, I will focus on training, equipment, staffing, and leadership that supports deputies while holding everyone to a clear, consistent standard. I believe in proactive solutions, including neighborhood watch support, substance-abuse response training, and behavioral-health awareness, so deputies are prepared to respond effectively and safely.

When deputies are trained, supported, and confident, everyone benefits.

What I Stand For

I am not running for Sheriff for power, recognition, or politics. I am running because I believe Harnett County deserves steady, experienced leadership that protects both our citizens and the men and women who serve them.

I believe in accountability with fairness, discipline with compassion, and law enforcement that truly reflects the values of the community it serves. Our deputies deserve proper training, support, and leadership. Our citizens deserve professionalism, respect, and safety, without fear or intimidation.

My career has taught me that trust is not demanded; it is earned. As Sheriff, my commitment is simple: to serve with integrity, to lead with transparency, and to restore confidence in the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office.

I respectfully ask for your support, your vote, and your trust. Together, we can move forward, united, safer, and stronger for our families, our deputies, and our county.

Protecting Harnett County is not just my profession...It is my calling!