About Our Sheriff

Richard W. Davis was born in California, but returned to Hendersonville, N.C., the home of his parents when he was 12 years old. He and his twin brother Ron and sister Cheryl are the children of the late Benjamin and Betty Davis. Rick is a 1983 graduate of Hendersonville High School.

During his childhood Rick was active in his community as a Boy Scout (Edneyville Troop 605) and as a member of the Civil Air Patrol. In 1982, while still in high school, Rick joined the Army National Guard, 120th Infantry Regiment (Flat Rock) on his 17th birthday.

Volunteering for active duty in the Army in 1984, Rick served in Korea for one year along the Demilitarized Zone. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1989 as Squad Leader in the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg. He logged 44 parachute jumps during this time.

In 1990 upon completion of Basic Law Enforcement Training, he joined the Charlotte Police Department. After only six months of duty there, he was offered a position as Patrol Officer with the Henderson Co. Sheriff’s Office.

He was able to launch a successful career in civilian law enforcement while continuing his military service as a reservist. He transferred back to the Flat Rock Army National Guard, received Military Police training and served with the 211th Military Police and 120th Infantry Regiment from 1990 to 1998. In 1988 he joined the Air Force Reserve and served with the 84th Aerial Port Squadron as Hazardous Materials Supervisor (TSgt.) until his recent retirement.

During his tenure in the Air Force Reserve, following the fateful events of September 11, 2001, Rick was again called to active duty for Operation Enduring Freedom. On leave from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, he served six months in Saudi Arabia. A proud moment in Rick’s life was when he was honored as the Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for the 22nd Air Force, which includes 27,000 assigned personnel. In his military career, Rick served a total of 24 years—7 years on active duty, and 17 years in reserves.

Sheriff Davis has taken advantage of educational opportunities made available through the military as well as civilian law enforcement agencies. He has received two Associate Degrees: one in Business Management/Air Transportation, by the Community college of the Air Force Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; and another in Applied Science-Criminal Justice Technology, by Stanly Community College, Albemarle, NC.

Sheriff Davis is a graduate of the FBI National Academy. Fewer than two dozen sworn officers from North Carolina are selected each year to attend this internationally prestigious institution. He also met the rigorous requirement to earn four specialized training certificates: Criminal Investigations, Community Policing, School Resource Officer, and Corrections. He has the distinction of being one of the few sworn officers in North Carolina to hold all four of these certifications.

By 2003 he had been promoted to Captain, managing the Support Services Division, and in 2006 the citizens of Henderson County elected him as their Sheriff.

Sheriff Davis is married to Mary Morris Davis, a long-time teacher in the Henderson County Public Schools. He has three children.

 

 

 

Henderson County Sheriff's Office
201 North Main Street | Hendersonville, North Carolina 28792

Phone: 828-697-4596
EMERGENCY: 911
Administration Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm