Now in his third term as sheriff, Alan Norman has been a respected leader in law enforcement for more than 30 years and he has worked diligently to keep Cleveland County safe.

Cleveland's sheriff changes parties

Alan Norman has worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years.

Sitting sheriff elected for third term

Norman is in his third term as sheriff of Cleveland County. He turned in the paperwork to change his party affiliation on Tuesday, and the request was processed Wednesday.

Alan currently serves in his third term as sheriff of Cleveland County.

2026 North Carolina General Election

To help stop prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands, the Cleveland County Sheriff's Office partnered with the SBI and the Cleveland County SAPC and started the Operation Medicine Drop here in Cleveland County. The opioid epidemic is not only a national crisis but a North Carolina crisis as well. An average of 4 people per day are dying from overdose in NC with 79% of those deaths involving some type of opioid. Drugs not properly disposed of may end up getting into the wrong hands or end up in our water system.

Operation Medicine Drop

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Office provides a School Resource Officer (SRO) for deployment in schools within our jurisdiction. The SRO program places a regular sworn law enforcement officer on a full-time basis within Cleveland County's elementary, middle, and high schools, where he or she acts as a liaison between law enforcement and the schools. The SRO program is a collaborative effort by law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents, and the community to reduce crime, drug abuse, and violence and provide a safe school environment.

School Resource Officers

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office hires highly motivated men and women who enjoy working with the public. We emphasize training and skill development well in excess of State certification requirements. Each new deputy is required to go through comprehensive field training for a minimum of 12 weeks. The trainee participates in and is exposed to as many different components of the office as possible.

Training and Recruitment

As sheriff, started a six-week fifth-grade program on drug consequences, bullying, and responsible electronic behavior.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office started the STAR (Sheriff’s Teaching Abuse Resistance) Program in January 2022. The Program allows School Resource Officers who are assigned to an elementary school the ability to teach a 6-week lesson plan to 5th-grade students at the school. The lessons consist of good citizenship, good decision making, consequences of alcohol, illegal drugs and prescription drugs, bullying, and responsible behavior using electronic means.

STAR (Sheriff's Teaching Abuse Resistance)

As sheriff, started Operation Medicine Drop to help keep prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands.

As sheriff, provides full-time school resource officers in elementary, middle, and high schools.

Requires new deputies to complete at least 12 weeks of comprehensive field training.

- As sheriff, started Operation Medicine Drop to help keep prescription drugs from falling into the wrong hands.
- As sheriff, provides full-time school resource officers in elementary, middle, and high schools.
- Requires new deputies to complete at least 12 weeks of comprehensive field training.

Public Safety

The Detention Division is comprised of 68 full time detention officers. The supervisory staff consist of a Major, Detention Administrator (Captain), Assistant Detention Administrator (Lieutenant) four Deputy Sheriff Sergeants and twelve Detention Corporals. The staff of the Detention Division is dedicated to being well trained, competent, and professional officers. The safety of the staff, citizens and inmates is of the utmost importance in the daily operation of both facilities.

Detention Center

Prioritizes detention-facility safety for staff, citizens, and inmates, alongside staff training and professionalism.

- Prioritizes detention-facility safety for staff, citizens, and inmates, alongside staff training and professionalism.

Jail Management

Sheriff Norman stated, “This seizure highlights the effectiveness of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies and the dedication of our deputies who work tirelessly to keep dangerous drugs out of our communities. More than two kilograms of fentanyl represents thousands of potentially deadly doses that will never reach the citizens of Cleveland and Rutherford Counties. I am extremely proud of the professionalism and teamwork displayed by the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office C.I.T. Team and the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office A.C.E. Team. Together, we remain committed to holding drug traffickers accountable and protecting the citizens we serve.”

Cleveland County Sheriff's Office - In GOD We Trust

Committed to holding drug traffickers accountable through partnerships between law enforcement agencies.

- Committed to holding drug traffickers accountable through partnerships between law enforcement agencies.

Criminal Justice

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Alan Norman

Aims to help citizens combat the effects of drug trafficking and abuse by identifying those involved in drug activity and developing prosecutable cases against them.

As of January 5, 2026, Alan Norman’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Supports teaching good citizenship, decision-making, and responsible behavior to students through the STAR Program.

Mauricio Mendez

Buket Urgen

- 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. 