Please introduce yourself and describe your qualifications for office:

ESTES: My name is Brian Estes. I am a lifelong resident of Lee County, where I reside with my wife Ashley and son Corbin. I started my career in Law Enforcement with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office in 2002.

Estes, Lyles vying for full term as sheriff – THE RANT

Please introduce yourself and describe your qualifications for office:

ESTES: Since being employed with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, I have continued my education. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I have completed hours of training that have afforded me an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission.

Brian Estes is a lifelong resident of Lee County. He has a bachelor's degree in criminal justice. He resides with his wife, Ashley, and their son.

Read questionnaire answers from Lee County’s primary candidates – THE RANT

Please introduce yourself and describe your qualifications for office:

ESTES: Over the last 20 years I have worked in every capacity in the Sheriff’s Office as I served as a Bailiff, Patrol Deputy, Domestic Violence Investigator, Criminal Investigator, Narcotic Agent, Task Force Officer/Homeland Security, Captain of Professional Standards, and now as YOUR Sheriff. I was appointed Sheriff after being recommended by retired Sheriff Tracy Carter and being voted unanimously by the County Commissioners.

Please introduce yourself and describe your qualifications for office:

ESTES: I am the first Lee County Deputy in the history of the Sheriff’s Office to be accepted and to attend the FBI National Academy.

I am a General and Specialized Physical Fitness Instructor and I enjoy teaching in the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at Central Carolina Community College.

Brian Estes is a general and specialized physical fitness instructor and teaches in the Basic Law Enforcement Training Program at Central Carolina Community College. He previously served with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a bailiff, patrol deputy, domestic violence investigator, criminal investigator, narcotic agent, task force officer, and captain of professional standards.

Accomplishment Timeline:

Sheriff Estes began part time with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and performed several different duties as needed, before accepting a full time position to the Patrol division; promoted to the Domestic Violence Investigator, Criminal Investigator, Narcotic Agent, Task Force Officer HSI, Captain of Professional Standards and was appointed Sheriff in Jan 2022.

Lee County Sheriff's Office

LEE COUNTY CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT Susie K. Thomas DEM 12,676 4,258 7,759 640 19
LEE COUNTY SHERIFF Brian Estes REP 12,680 5,029 7,347 290 14
Carlton J. Lyles DEM 6,473 1,843 4,114 504 12
LEE SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
SUPERVISOR

SKM_C250i22112913260 (Composite Abstract - November 2022 General Election)

Brian was appointed Lee County sheriff in January 2022 and elected to the office later in 2022.

Composite Abstract - November 2022 General Election.pdf

Brian currently serves as Lee County sheriff. He was elected in 2022 and is serving his first term.

2026 North Carolina General Election

Discuss your top two or three priorities for enforcement that you believe will result in a safer community:

ESTES: Public Safety and the protection of all Lee County Residents is vital. With the current trend of population growth Lee County is seeing, we need to have a realistic plan to grow the Sheriff’s Office. I have restructured our Patrol Division to place more Deputies on each shift. This will help reduce response times and help reduce property crimes. Having more Deputies on each shift will also help keep our Deputies safe.

Discuss your top two or three priorities for enforcement that you believe will result in a safer community:

ESTES: Public Safety and the protection of all Lee County Residents is vital. With the current trend of population growth Lee County is seeing, we need to have a realistic plan to grow the Sheriff’s Office. I have restructured our Patrol Division to place more Deputies on each shift. This will help reduce response times and help reduce property crimes. Having more Deputies on each shift will also help keep our Deputies safe.

Making sure these Deputies have the best training possible will ensure that the citizens receive top level professional Law Enforcement.

Discuss your top two or three priorities for enforcement that you believe will result in a safer community:

ESTES: Public Safety and the protection of all Lee County Residents is vital. With the current trend of population growth Lee County is seeing, we need to have a realistic plan to grow the Sheriff’s Office. I have restructured our Patrol Division to place more Deputies on each shift. This will help reduce response times and help reduce property crimes. Having more Deputies on each shift will also help keep our Deputies safe.

Making sure these Deputies have the best training possible will ensure that the citizens receive top level professional Law Enforcement.

The enforcement of the distribution of Narcotics will continue to be a very high priority.

There’s been a documented shortage of law enforcement officers and other first responders nationwide. How will you ensure you have enough deputies to address the many enforcement issues facing communities in Lee County?

ESTES: Having enough staff to safely protect our citizens is essential. The recruitment of employees is very important as is the retention of our current and future staff. The Safety and wellness of our Deputies is especially important to me with the vigorous demands they face on a daily basis.

There’s been a documented shortage of law enforcement officers and other first responders nationwide. How will you ensure you have enough deputies to address the many enforcement issues facing communities in Lee County?

ESTES: Having enough staff to safely protect our citizens is essential. The recruitment of employees is very important as is the retention of our current and future staff. The Safety and wellness of our Deputies is especially important to me with the vigorous demands they face on a daily basis.

Providing staff with good training, equipment, and a competitive and fair compensation is needed to ensure longevity of our employees.

As sheriff, restructured patrol shifts to place more deputies on each shift, aiming to reduce response times and property crime.

Prioritizes training for sheriff's office deputies.

Prioritizes enforcement against narcotics distribution.

Prioritizes recruiting and retaining sheriff's office staff through training, equipment, competitive compensation, and attention to deputy safety and wellness.

- As sheriff, restructured patrol shifts to place more deputies on each shift, aiming to reduce response times and property crime.
- Prioritizes training for sheriff's office deputies.
- Prioritizes enforcement against narcotics distribution.
- Prioritizes recruiting and retaining sheriff's office staff through training, equipment, competitive compensation, and attention to deputy safety and wellness.

Public Safety

Discuss your top two or three priorities for enforcement that you believe will result in a safer community:

ESTES: Public Safety and the protection of all Lee County Residents is vital. With the current trend of population growth Lee County is seeing, we need to have a realistic plan to grow the Sheriff’s Office. I have restructured our Patrol Division to place more Deputies on each shift. This will help reduce response times and help reduce property crimes. Having more Deputies on each shift will also help keep our Deputies safe.

Making sure these Deputies have the best training possible will ensure that the citizens receive top level professional Law Enforcement.

The enforcement of the distribution of Narcotics will continue to be a very high priority.

We have also implemented programs in our Jail to inmates to educate, build confidence, and provide life skills to aid in reentering society and decrease the probability that they will reoffend in the future.

As sheriff, implemented jail programs providing education, confidence-building, and life skills intended to support reentry and reduce reoffending.

- As sheriff, implemented jail programs providing education, confidence-building, and life skills intended to support reentry and reduce reoffending.

Jail Management

Discuss your top two or three priorities for enforcement that you believe will result in a safer community:

ESTES: Public Safety and the protection of all Lee County Residents is vital. With the current trend of population growth Lee County is seeing, we need to have a realistic plan to grow the Sheriff’s Office. I have restructured our Patrol Division to place more Deputies on each shift. This will help reduce response times and help reduce property crimes. Having more Deputies on each shift will also help keep our Deputies safe.

Making sure these Deputies have the best training possible will ensure that the citizens receive top level professional Law Enforcement.

The enforcement of the distribution of Narcotics will continue to be a very high priority.

We have also implemented programs in our Jail to inmates to educate, build confidence, and provide life skills to aid in reentering society and decrease the probability that they will reoffend in the future.

Community involvement is imperative for success. I have been involved in meetings with County officials and Community stakeholders on new ideas to help combat Mental Illness in Lee County. Our Community involvement will help make a safer Community for all.

Participates in meetings with county officials and community stakeholders about ways to address mental illness in Lee County.

- Participates in meetings with county officials and community stakeholders about ways to address mental illness in Lee County.

Criminal Justice

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Brian Estes

The campaign biography states: “Attained my Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Central Carolina Community College; then attained my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Olive College.” Its accomplishment timeline specifies that he received the Mount Olive College bachelor’s degree in 2001.

Meet Brian

Brian Estes earned an associate degree in criminal justice from Central Carolina Community College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mount Olive College.

Sheriff Brian Estes began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a Patrol Deputy, Domestic Violence Investigator, Criminal Investigator, Narcotics Agent, Task Force Officer, Homeland Security Officer, Captain of Professional Standards and Major of Department Operations.

Brian Estes has served with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, domestic violence investigator, criminal investigator, narcotics agent, task force officer, Homeland Security officer, captain of professional standards, and major of department operations.

Rant: What do you see as the biggest threat to public safety in Lee County and how will you leverage the assets of the sheriff’s office to confront it?

Estes: The biggest threat that I see on a daily basis, that has somehow affected every family in Lee County, is associated with illegal drugs. I have personally witnessed the effect of overdoses and addiction destroying families. I will do everything in my ability to ensure justice is brought for the friends, family, and loved ones that are also affected.

In addition to our Narcotic’s Investigators, I plan to have an Investigator that solely focuses on overdose cases and investigates the people responsible for the sale of poison to our children.

Estes: Training has a significant impact on all aspects of Law Enforcement. I take training very seriously and have been teaching Officers the fundamentals of Law Enforcement since 2007. Continued training for Deputies on how to properly do their jobs while ensuring Law and Order is a priority.

The article describes school threats reported in Lee County. "Kids need to understand, and we need their parents to make sure they understand that this isn't a game, and we're going to do everything we can to prosecute in these cases," Lee County Sheriff Brian Estes told The Rant. "We don't want to ruin their lives, but they have to know there are very serious consequences when they do something like this."

TRICK OR THREAT – THE RANT

Plans to assign an investigator solely to investigate overdose cases and identify people responsible for illegal drug sales.

Prioritizes continued training for deputies on performing their jobs properly while maintaining law and order.

Said the sheriff’s office will seek to prosecute school-threat cases while emphasizing the serious consequences of those threats.

- Plans to assign an investigator solely to investigate overdose cases and identify people responsible for illegal drug sales.
- Prioritizes continued training for deputies on performing their jobs properly while maintaining law and order.
- Said the sheriff’s office will seek to prosecute school-threat cases while emphasizing the serious consequences of those threats.

In addition to our Narcotic’s Investigators, I plan to have an Investigator that solely focuses on overdose cases and investigates the people responsible for the sale of poison to our children. As Sheriff, I am also implementing programs in our Detention Center that will give people a chance to start recovering and help them with mental health issues while incarcerated, to hopefully give them a sense of direction when released.

As sheriff, implemented detention-center programs addressing recovery and mental-health needs during incarceration to help people prepare for release.

- As sheriff, implemented detention-center programs addressing recovery and mental-health needs during incarceration to help people prepare for release.

Rant: How do you view the balance between aggressively pursuing criminal investigations and protecting the rights of individuals?

Estes: As your Sheriff I will continue to protect the rights of all citizens of Lee County. The Constitution, State Law, and Policies clearly define the standard that will ensure transparency and due diligence.

First and foremost, protecting the rights of ALL citizens is paramount. It is important to remember that each person on both the right and wrong side of the law has their individual rights and it is my responsibility to ensure that everyone is protected.

Pledges to protect the rights of all county residents, including people accused of crimes, during criminal investigations.

- Pledges to protect the rights of all county residents, including people accused of crimes, during criminal investigations.

Sheriff Estes grew up in Sanford, NC and attended Lee Senior High School.

Sheriff Brian Estes began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a Patrol Deputy, Domestic Violence Investigator, Criminal Investigator, Narcotics Agent, Task Force Officer, Homeland Security Officer, Captain of Professional Standards and Major of Department Operations.

Sheriff Estes attained his Associate Degree in Criminal Justice from Central Carolina Community College; then attained his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Olive College.

Sheriff Estes has completed countless hours of training that have afforded him the Intermediate Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standard’s Commission along with an Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Sheriff’s Education and Training Standard’s Commission.

Sheriff Estes is a family man and believes that a supportive family is essential in the success of any career, especially law enforcement. Along with his wife Ashley and son Corbin, they call Lee county their home.

Brian Estes grew up in Sanford, North Carolina. He earned an associate's degree in criminal justice from Central Carolina Community College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mount Olive College. He is married to Ashley and has one son.

Sheriff Estes became a General Instructor after attending the North Carolina Justice Academy. He then began teaching in the Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) program at Central Carolina Community College and became a Qualified Assistant to the School Director for the night classes program.

Brian previously worked with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office as a patrol deputy, a domestic violence investigator, a criminal investigator, a narcotics agent, a task force officer, a homeland security officer, a captain of professional standards, and a major of department operations. He also became a general instructor and taught in the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Central Carolina Community College, where he served as a qualified assistant to the school director for the night classes program.

Brian currently serves as Lee County Sheriff. He was appointed sheriff in January 2022.

As of April 6, 2026, Brian Estes’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Brian Estes is from Sanford, North Carolina. He has an associate's degree in criminal justice from Central Carolina Community College and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Mount Olive College. He and his wife, Ashley, have a son.

Brian is the sheriff of Lee County. He began his law enforcement career in 2002 with the Lee County Sheriff's Office. He has served as a patrol deputy, domestic violence investigator, criminal investigator, narcotics agent, task force officer, and homeland security officer. He also previously worked as a general instructor and specialized physical fitness instructor at the North Carolina Justice Academy and Central Carolina Community College.

Brian is currently the Lee County Sheriff. He was appointed to the position in January 2022.

Brian Estes (Lee County Sheriff, North Carolina, candidate 2022)

Lee County sheriff asks to be dropped from eCourts lawsuit

As sheriff, became a Specialized Physical Fitness Instructor and started a Physical Fitness program within the Lee County Sheriff’s Office along with teaching Physical Fitness training to Basic Law Enforcement Training Cadets and Detention Officers.

Pavel Tantchev

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. 