Burnis Wilkins

Incumbent Robeson County Sheriff in Lumberton, North Carolina

Burnis Wilkins is a candidate for Robeson County Sheriff in Lumberton, North Carolina — 2026 Primary Election. Running as Democratic Party.

Burnis Wilkins has over 40 years of experience in law enforcement, serving with city, county, state, and federal agencies. He began his career in public service as a teenager, volunteering as a firefighter and an auxiliary dispatcher for the Robeson County Sheriff's Office. He was sworn in as a police officer with the Lumberton Police Department in 1981 and joined the Robeson County Sheriff's Office in 1982. Throughout his career, he has held various roles, including Drug Division Supervisor, Chief of Detectives, a state agent with the Alcohol Law Enforcement Division, and a sworn Special Deputy U.S. Marshal. Before being elected Sheriff in 2018, Wilkins served as a Lumberton City Councilman. He holds an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice and has received the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate. Wilkins was re-elected in 2022, running unopposed.