Sheriff's Office holds swearing-in ceremony

The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office had its swearing-in ceremony this week as Sheriff Ronnie Ingram, left, won his second term unopposed. LCSO Major Ryan Dawson, right, took the oath, along with more than 130 deputies. Photo by Junious Smith III / Neuse News

A new term for the sheriff means a swearing-in ceremony as well.

Dozens of Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office deputies participated in the ceremony Tuesday at the Lenoir County Courthouse. LCSO Major Ryan Dawson said the process is done each time an election is held for the sheriff; Ronnie Ingram ran unopposed and retained his position.

“Every four years when the sheriff is elected, everyone goes through this regimen,” Dawson said. “(On Monday) Sheriff Ingram took his oath and we took ours (Tuesday) where we could get as many deputies as possible.”

There were about 130 deputies at Monday’s ceremony, including 16-year veteran Danny Daughety, who said he appreciates the ceremony and Ingram.

“It’s an honor to take the ceremony and I really enjoy working with this man,” Daughety said.

Farris Gray, who has been with LCSO for five years, shared similar sentiments.

“The ceremony means a lot,” Gray said. “Our sheriff was reelected and he’s a good guy.”

Ingram said the ceremony holds plenty of weight because of what it represents.

“This is a very important thing because all of the men and women who are sworn in are done under the elected sheriff,” Ingram said. “These men and women are an extension of myself and it’s definitely a big deal.”