BY DARREN CAMPBELL

It is no secret that I regard the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office as the best law enforcement agency in the state. Within the walls of our office are some of the most dedicated and professional men and women that I have had the pleasure to work alongside. While I see evidence of this on a daily basis, it has never been as evident as it was this past week.

Beginning with the responding deputies that answered the call concerning a missing teen last Wednesday, from the detectives who were quickly involved in the situation and the drone pilots who flew countless hours to the deputies that quickly began gleaning electronic devices and the deputies who knocked on doors and reviewed camera footage, the dedication they displayed was remarkable. Many worked tirelessly, most worked endlessly, and all breathed a sign of relief collectively, when Gideon Ferguson, the missing Iredell County teen, was discovered safe.

As we first began to search for Gideon, we were truly working against time. With temperatures dropping into the teens on Wednesday night, concerns mounted. As sheriff, my apprehension was two-fold: for the safety of the missing teen, and for those searching in the woods for him. The imminent dangers and obstacles are many. Cold can reduce the ability for dogs to track, members of search teams risk frost bite, and slipping on ice. The list of potential hazards is lengthy.

However, these dedicated men and women would not let that deter them. They saw a need, a neighbor possibly in trouble, and answered the call. 

Iredell County deputies, along with members of Iredell Search and Rescue, searched throughout the night. On Thursday morning, we were met with additional search teams and a flood of support and help from other agencies. Local fire departments, search and rescue teams from Lincoln, Burke and Cabarrus Counties, Mooresville Fire and Rescue, Troutman and Shepherds Fire Departments, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, along with Iredell County Emergency Management, all joined in with the same objective: to bring home the missing teen.

There were numerous agencies that joined in the search, in addition to the ones I’ve mentioned. The list is long, and I cannot name everyone; however every team is appreciated and their contributions were numerous.

Darren Campbell is the Iredell County Sheriff.