Samuel Eric Southerland

Eric Southerland is a public servant from Warsaw, North Carolina, with over 30 years of experience in law enforcement. A graduate of James Kenan High School, he was a founding member of the Duplin County Explorers program with the Sheriff's Office. He earned his Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) certificate and an Associate of Applied Science in criminal justice from James Sprunt Community College. His career includes over 20 years with the Duplin County Sheriff's Office, where he served in roles such as Patrol Deputy and Training Coordinator. He later became the Chief of Police for the Warsaw Police Department. Southerland has also served as the Director of the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at James Sprunt Community College and is the current President of the North Carolina Police Training Officers Association.