ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Buncombe County Sheriff Quentin E. Miller announced Monday that he will seek a third term in office, saying he wants to continue advancing 21st-century policing initiatives.
Miller, a Democrat, was first elected in 2018 and is the first African-American sheriff in Buncombe County.
“I have learned a tremendous amount during the seven years I have been in office as sheriff,” Miller said in a statement. “I continue to learn every day at this job, and I want to build upon what we have accomplished so far. It has been a difficult seven years. The death of Mr. Floyd brought forth many ugly truths about some who do not serve the communities they police. COVID caught everyone off guard and upended almost everything. The devastation of Hurricane Helene continues to impact our community and will for years to come. Despite those challenges, I believe the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office is the premier law enforcement agency in Western North Carolina, and I hope our community will allow me a third term to continue this work.”
Among Miller’s early initiatives was a 2019 policy change to not honor ICE detainers without a valid warrant. He said the policy ensures members of the immigrant community can seek help from law enforcement without fear.
During his tenure, Miller also expanded the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) program at the Buncombe County Detention Facility, one of only two pilot programs in the state funded by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. In 2022, Gov. Josh Stein called the program the “gold standard” during a tour of the facility.
Miller has also led efforts to move the sheriff’s office toward “Triple Crown” accreditation, which would certify the department through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, North Carolina Law Enforcement Accreditation and the American Correctional Association. Achieving this distinction would set Buncombe apart from most law enforcement agencies statewide.
Born and raised in Asheville, Miller graduated from Asheville High School in 1981 and served 11 years as a military policeman in the U.S. Army. He met his wife, Karen Sconiers, at Fort Bragg in 1985. The couple has been married 39 years, has 11 grandchildren and has fostered more than 100 children since 2005.