Long was born in Chapel Hill, NC, and raised in Efland, NC, where his late mother instilled in him the importance of strong work ethics, community values, and public service. Guided by these foundational values and a commitment to serving the community, Long began a career in law enforcement by joining the Orange County SheriƯ’s OƯice in 2002, completing his Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) in Burlington, NC in 2004.

Microsoft Word - Long For Sheriff Bio (PDF)

Shannon L. Long is a devoted husband to Tiffany Long and a proud father of three. Having lived in Alamance County for the last 18 years, he is a dedicated advocate for positive change, striving to live by the principles of God ϐirst, family, and community.

Shannon Long is a married father of three.

After 8 years of service in law enforcement, Long felt called to serve his community in a different capacity, which led him to transition to full-time ministry. For the last 13 years, he has been a respected pastor at Beyond Measure Ministries in Haw River, NC, while continuing his service as a Reserve Sheriff’s Deputy and maintaining his BLET certiϐication with the Orange County Sheriff’s Ofϐice since 2010.

Long has been a business owner since 2010, when he opened a barber shop, and eventually launched Beyond Measure Barbering Institute. His law enforcement experience dates back to 2002, when he took a job at the Orange County Detention Center.

News of Orange County interview with Shannon Long

According to Orange County’s personnel office, Long held the title of Deputy Sheriff I from his date of hire on February 16, 2002 until his resignation on July 23, 2010.

Alamance sheriff candidates have clean records in earlier law enforcement jobs

Alamance Co. sheriff candidate wants to deliver hope, leadership

Elections director believes independent candidate for sheriff has met ...

Shannon is a pastor and has previous experience as a deputy sheriff.

Shannon Long (Alamance County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate ...

Shannon is a first-time candidate for political office.

2026 North Carolina General Election

The position of the sheriff’s office is to follow the laws of the land. I’m an advocate for the law. I believe in the law, but my issues are with how those laws are being carried out. How are we articulating what we do? We have got to get rid of racial profiling. We’ve got to get rid of prejudice. We’ve got to get rid of, let me use a term I learned here in the county, the “good ol’ boy” system.

To alleviate residents’ fears, he said deputies would be more visible in the community—“actually getting out of the car and meeting with the residents of the county.” And he plans to increase training for deputies, specifically around racial profiling, but also around physical and mental health support and deescalation techniques.

Alamance County sheriff and ICE ally faces accusations of racism—and a challenger this fall

Through his candidacy, he aims to:  Strengthen Relationships by bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community.  Pursue and Achieve Accreditation through the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation (NCLEA) and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) programs, which improve ϐinancial accountability by ensuring transparency, boost public conϐidence, and ensure internal procedures comply with professional standards.  Develop Innovative Strategies tailored to community needs to tackle the county's most urgent public safety challenges.

Calls for ending racial profiling and increasing deputy training on racial profiling, physical and mental health support, and de-escalation.

Wants to increase deputy training on racial profiling, physical and mental health support, and de-escalation.

Plans to pursue accreditation through the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies to improve transparency and adherence to professional standards.

- Wants to increase deputy training on racial profiling, physical and mental health support, and de-escalation.
- Plans to pursue accreditation through the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies to improve transparency and adherence to professional standards.

Public Safety

Sometimes they don’t need to be incarcerated — they need to be evaluated. That’s one side. The other is mental health services for the staff. Mental health evaluations need to be more than an annual check.

Through his candidacy, he aims to:  Advocate for the Homeless by building relationships through community outreach efforts to understand the needs of the unhoused population, creating a safer and more compassionate community for everyone.  Address Complex Mental Health Crises by implementing mental health education and training for staff and the community to effectively manage current challenges and build a more resilient and healthier justice system.  Implement Rehabilitation Programs that provide education, life skills, and resources for personal and professional growth, helping individuals reintegrate as productive community members and reducing the likelihood of reoffending after their release.

As of September 2, 2026, Shannon Long did not have a website or any information online.

Jail Management

For Long, too, the sheriff’s office in Alamance County has been too focused on immigrants. He said he believes immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, telling Bolts and NC Local, “I’d just rather for immigration to do what they have to do, versus us intertwining with them.” He added, “We’re going to do our job, and our job is not to do what they’re doing, which is, right now, racial profiling.”

Not everyone needs to be arrested. But what we often do is bring them to the detention center, which can escalate bad reactions from people who have mental health issues. I’ve seen it. Sometimes they don’t need to be incarcerated — they need to be evaluated. That’s one side. The other is mental health services for the staff.

Through his candidacy, he aims to:  Address Complex Mental Health Crises by implementing mental health education and training for staff and the community to effectively manage current challenges and build a more resilient and healthier justice system.  Implement Rehabilitation Programs that provide education, life skills, and resources for personal and professional growth, helping individuals reintegrate as productive community members and reducing the likelihood of reoffending after their release.

Opposes participating in the 287(g) program in its current form and holding people for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement beyond state-law requirements.

Still, Long believes he can make changes if elected. He said he would not hold people for ICE in the county’s detention center outside what’s mandated by state law and that he would not contract with the 287(g) program in its current form. He made the case that 287(g) is operating with “neglectful policy and procedure,” specifically related to the racial profiling of Latinos and the targeting of immigrants who aren’t “high-level criminals.”

Believes immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility rather than a responsibility of the sheriff’s office.

- Believes immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility rather than a responsibility of the sheriff’s office.

Criminal Justice

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Shannon Long

- Plans to pursue accreditation through the North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation program and the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies to improve transparency and adherence to professional standards.

Isaac Brickman

Walter Ley

Terry S. Johnson

- The sheriff is responsible for enforcing the law, managing security in jails and courtrooms. They also oversee daily conditions of the jail and inmates in custody and serve legal documents such as warrants and eviction notices. Their ultimate responsibility is to protect the community. 

Responsible for enforcing the law and overseeing jails. 