On January 1st Shane Hilliard was unanimously selected by the Yancey County Republican Executive Committee to fulfill the term of retired Sheriff Gary Banks. After the Executive Committee meeting, Yancey County Commissioners unanimously voted in the affirmative for Sheriff Hilliard’s appointment. At 11:15 AM on January 1, 2022 Sheriff Shane Hilliard was sworn in by Resident Superior Court Judge Gary Gavenus.
Sheriff Gary Banks retired on December 31, 2021 at midnight. Sheriff Banks said “Tonight will mark 40 years since I first started working for the Yancey County Sheriff’s Office. I am very proud and humbled to have served as your Sheriff for the past 12 years. The Office is operating smoothly and I truly believe that I will be leaving the office in very capable hands. I have been blessed with putting together an extremely well qualified and trained staff. The Sheriff’s Office is comprised of some of the finest and most caring people. They genuinely care about the community they serve. I look forward to retirement and enjoying more time with my family and time to concentrate on my hobbies. I have been blessed to serve the citizens of Yancey County for many years. I intend to continue living in the Cane River community of our beautiful county.”
Sheriff Hilliard was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in 2001 as a Jailer. He went on to serve in the positions of Dispatcher, Deputy, K9 Deputy School Resource Officer, Courthouse Security Chief, and Chief Jailer. In 2014, he was promoted to Chief Deputy, where he has served in this role for the last 7 years. Sheriff Hilliard is a Certified North Carolina Criminal Justice Instructor and has taught Officers from a number of counties and jurisdictions. Sheriff Hilliard has successfully completed several executive level training programs including the NC State University Law Enforcement Executive Program, FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Program, National Institute of Corrections in Jail Administration, FBI Command College, and he holds a North Carolina Advanced Law Enforcement Certifications.
Sheriff Hilliard stated, “Yancey County has been my home my whole life. It has been a wonderful place to grow up and now raise a family. I will work hard to ensure Yancey County remains a place where future generations can enjoy the same liberties and safe community that past generations have been privileged to. As your Sheriff, I commit to uphold the constitution and defend your rights and freedoms as citizens of Yancey County. I would like to wish Sheriff Gary Banks a wonderful retirement. It’s an honor to have him as a friend, Sheriff, mentor and most of all a brother in Christ.”
Sheriff Hilliard is a 1998 graduate of Mountain Heritage High School. He is very active in the community and serves as a Deacon at Double Island Baptist Church where he and his family attend. Sheriff Hilliard and his wife Leslie have been married for 16 years and have two children Hudson and Hollyn Hilliard.
