York County’s sheriff Tony Breeden takes office Monday. Why you won’t see him in a suit
Don’t get used to Tony Breeden in a suit.
On Monday, the retired Rock Hill police officer who served almost three decades on patrol will be sworn in as York County sheriff. And he will wear a uniform.
“I’m not an administrator,” Breeden said bluntly. “I am a lawman. I’m a cop.”
Breeden, 55, won the Republican primary over four other candidates in June, including the current sheriff’s wife. Then, he won the November election unopposed because no Democrat ran for the job.
Breeden will replace Kevin Tolson, who served eight years as the county’s top law enforcement officer. The sheriff is in charge of more than 400 employees in enforcement and detention, with a $55 million annual budget. York County’s population is almost 300,000 people. The sheriff has a four-year term and is paid an annual salary of $209,261.
After winning the primary, Breeden made several trips to western North Carolina in October and November with donated supplies for Helene victims. He collected toys for children for Christmas.
But now his focus is here.
“Being elected is the most humbling thing that has ever happened to me,” Breeden said. “Now it’s time to do the work.”
Here are 3 things to know about Breeden he told The Herald before taking office.
1. Crime victims and public safety come first
“Nothing is more important than taking care of victims of crime, and protecting public safety,” Breeden said about his priorities. “We will relentlessly pursue those out there who hurt people. We will hold them accountable.”
Drug enforcement, school safety, and the welfare of children are among his top priorities. School resource officers will remain at all county jurisdiction schools. He can’t promise there will never be a safety problem at a school, but Breeden said he guarantees deputies always will respond if there is.
“School resource officers are one of the most important components of law enforcement,” Breeden said.
2. Visibility, transparency and public trust
Expectations for the sheriff are the high. And with that comes great responsibility to the public, Breeden said.
He vowed to be as transparent with the public as possible. He wants to be as accessible as the job allows and deliver timely public information, while still ensuring the integrity of investigations.
Breeden has met with Tolson and sheriff’s office staff for months to prepare for the job. Breeden said Tolson did a great job as sheriff, and current command staff down through the ranks remain on the job in Breeden’s tenure.
“There is nothing I have to fix,” Breeden said.
But Breeden has to be ready to lead as soon as he takes office. He said his three decades of experience, including more than 20 years on SWAT, make him ready.
“We come into this with a crime-fighting frame of mind,” Breeden said.
3. The uniform - Breeden will wear it
The sheriff’s office has countywide jurisdiction, but is separate from municipal police departments in Rock Hill, Fort Mill, York, Clover and Tega Cay. In York County, unlike nearby large North Carolina counties such as Mecklenburg and Gaston, the sheriff has responsibility for patrol and investigations.
Breeden said all deputies have to earn the public trust every day. That starts Monday at 5 p.m. with a swearing in at the historic York County Courthouse. The sheriff’s office plans to show Breeden taking the oath of office live on its Facebook page, spokesman Trent Faris said..
Breeden worked in uniform for his entire 28-year career in Rock Hill and said he will wear one while sheriff. Breeden said he is a street cop first and foremost and will bring that intensity to the sheriff’s office.
“I now work for the whole population of York County,“ Breeden said. “They wanted a cop. They got one.”
