Sheriff Ed McMahon began his law enforcement career in 1988 with the Vermont State Police, where he rose to the rank of Senior Trooper. In 1991, he and his family returned to Wilmington, where he joined the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff Ed has worked in both the Patrol Division and the Detective Division, as a Deputy, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Assistant Division Commander. In 2003 he was promoted to the rank of Captain, and assigned to head the Judicial Services Division.
In 2007 Ed was promoted to Chief Deputy, serving in that position until 2009, when Sheriff Sid Causey retired and he was appointed to Sheriff. Ed was elected by the people of New Hanover County to serve as their Sheriff in 2010, 2014, 2018, and again in 2022. In 2013, Sheriff Ed was appointed to the Seventh Congressional District Homeland Security Task Force and graduated from Chief Executive Leadership Training at the Southern Police Institute.
Sheriff Ed married his college sweetheart, Teena, in 1982, and they have two married children, Shaun and his wife Sara, Taryn, and husband Josh. They are the proud grandparents of Braylee, Camdyn, Tenley, Sadie, Kylan, Kenzie, and Cooper whom they adore.
Sheriff Ed says, “What an honor and a privilege it is to serve and protect the citizens of this great county. I give God the glory for His blessings on my life. I want to be a humble and available leader, serving with Professionalism, Responsibility, and Accountability. I would ask that each citizen joins with me in praying for God’s wisdom each day, as I make decisions that affect each and every life that I serve.”
Professional Accomplishments
- 1988 – Vermont Police Academy – Pittsford, Vermont
- 1991 – Basic Law Enforcement Training – Cape Fear Community College
- 1998 – Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate – State of North Carolina
- 1998 – Officer of the Year Award
- 2000 – 911 Worker of the Year Award
- 2004 – FBI National Academy – Quantico, Virginia
- 2008 – Bachelor’s Degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies – Liberty University
- 2011 – Navigating Leadership Workshop – UNC - Wilmington
- 2012 – North Carolina Sheriff’s Leadership Institute – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- 2012 – National Sheriff’s Leadership Institute – Aurora, Colorado
- 2012 – Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Commendation Medal
- 2012 – Walk Chairman - Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
- 2013 – Seventh Congressional District Homeland Security Task Force
- 2013 – Chief Executive Leadership Training – Springfield, Missouri
- 2014 – National Jail Leadership Command Academy – Huntsville, Texas
- 2014 – Committee Co-Chair -Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2014 – Criminal Justice/BLET Advisory Committee
- 2014 – Woofie Award - Cape Fear Area Welfare of Animals
- 2015 – Board Member - State Purple Heart
- 2015 – Committee Chair - Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2015 – Southern Police Institute - Strategic Management Course - Sturbridge, MA
- 2016 – Board Member – State Purple Heart
- 2016 – Committee Chair - Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2016 – Southern Police Institute - Organization Leadership & Problem Solving - Myrtle Beach, SC
- 2016 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee - Cape Fear Community College
- 2016 – Southern Police Institute - Leadership for the Law Enforcement Executive – Sumter, SC
- 2017 – NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards Commission Member
- 2017 – Board Member – State Purple Heart
- 2017 – Committee Chair – Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2017 – Audit Committee – NC Sheriff’s Association
- 2017 – Southern Police Institute – Performance Management: From Budgeting to Operations – Louisville, KY
- 2018 – Commission Member - NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
- 2018 – Third Vice-President - NC Sheriff’s Association Executive Committee
- 2018 – Board Member – State Purple Heart
- 2018 – Board Member – Criminal Justice Fellows Program (CJFP)
- 2018 – Committee Chair – Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2018 – Committee Member - NC Criminal Justice Fellows Program
- 2019 – Sheriff of the Year – NC Law Enforcement Torch Run & Special Olympics
- 2019 – First NC Sheriff’s Office to receive Triple Crown Award from National Sheriff’s Association – For achieving National Simultaneous Accreditation(CALEA, ACA, NCCHC)
- 2019 – Commission Member – NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
- 2019 – Second Vice-President – NC Sheriff’s Association Executive Committee
- 2019 – Committee Chair – Cape Fear Purple Heart
- 2019 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2020 – First Vice-President – NC Sheriff’s Association Executive Committee
- 2020 – Commission Member – NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
- 2020 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2020 – Public Safety Administration Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2020 - Criminal Justice & Basic Law Enforcement Training Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2021 – July – Sworn in as President of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association
- 2021- NHC Sheriff’s Office - Reaccredited for NCCHC and ACA
- 2021 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2021 – Public Safety Administration Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2021 – Criminal Justice & Basic Law Enforcement Training Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2022 – Chairman of the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association
- 2022 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2022 – Public Safety Administration Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2022 – Commission Member – NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards / Chairman of the Probable Cause Committee under the NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
- 2023 – Department of Homeland Security Leadership Academy (DHSLA)
- 2023 – Special Olympics – Awarded Sheriff of the Year
- 2024 – Member of the Executive Committee – NC Sheriff’s Association
- 2024 – Emergency Medical Science Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2024 – Public Safety Administration Advisory Committee – Cape Fear Community College
- 2024 – Commission Member – NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards / Chairman of the Probable Cause Committee under the NC Sheriff’s Education and Training Standards
- 2024 - Committee Chair – Cape Fear Purple Heart
