Staff – December 6, 2024

References

1. County Commissioners Cannot Separate Personal Opinions from Official Duties During Meetings
   • The Role of Commissioner vs. Private Citizen: During a public board meeting, Commissioner McCord referenced criminal statutes and asserted his ability to charge citizens, raising questions about whether he was acting in his role as an elected official or as a law enforcement officer. This dual assertion blurs the lines between personal conduct and official capacity, as outlined in the Currituck County Code of Ethics.
2. The Inseparability of Law Enforcement Authority and Personal Conduct
   • The Inability to “Take Off the Badge”: McCord’s remarks, including his claim that he could act as a private citizen while still leveraging his authority as a captain in the sheriff’s office, conflict with the standards of professional conduct for law enforcement officers in North Carolina. N.C. General Statute § 14-223 and the North Carolina Sheriff’s Code of Ethics underscore that law enforcement personnel must uphold their official duties at all times and avoid any actions that misuse their authority or position.