ABOUT SHERIFF TIM WRIGHT

Tim Wright was elected by the citizens of Polk County to serve as Sheriff in November 2018.  He is a native of Polk County, raised in Lynn and currently resides in the Columbus Township. 

He attended Tryon Elementary School and graduated from Tryon High School in 1989. Sheriff Wright enlisted in the United States Navy after high school and served during Desert Shield and Desert Storm, stationed in Norfolk, Virginia aboard the USS Mount Whitney and was honorably discharged at the end of his enlistment.

EDUCATION

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Criminal Justice Technology - Isothermal Community College.

Bachelors of Science Degree in Human Services  - Gardner Webb University.

Master’s Degree in Justice Administration - Methodist University, December 2017. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER

Began in October of 1994 with the Tryon Police Department as a Police Officer assigned to patrol. During his tenure at the Tryon Police Department he attended several schools and have achieved various awards, commendations, and achievements including: Completing the Criminal Investigators Certificate Program through the North Carolina Justice Academy, Basic Clandestine Laboratory Investigator, Incident Response to Terrorist Bombings, Prevention of and Response to Suicide Bombing Incidents, Basic SWAT, Basic Instructor Course, and Advanced Firearms Instructor Course. 

Awards include: Officer of the Year, Law Enforcement Award from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Region C Criminal Justice Advisory Committee Citation, Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate through the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training and Standards Commission, and Life Saving Award. 

While serving as an officer with the Tryon Police Department, Sheriff Wright was promoted through the ranks of Corporal to Sergeant to Lieutenant and finally as Captain. He also served as the department’s field training officer and field training supervisor, overseeing the development, revisions, and implementation of the field training program.  

He was a member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office SRT (Special Response Team), as a “Breacher”.  He also has been lead investigator in murder, rape, and drug investigations and worked side by side with Federal, State, and local agencies both inside and outside of Polk County investigating various crimes leading to numerous convictions at the Federal and local levels. 

Sheriff Wright is a specialized firearms instructor and taught in-service training to officers throughout Polk County. He graduated from the 2014-2015 session of the distinguished Law Enforcement Executive Program through North Carolina State University.  He also taught Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) courses and Criminal Justice classes for those seeking their associate degrees from Isothermal Community College and also to local students at Polk County High School.