Sheriff Bobby F. Kimbrough, Jr. was elected to office in 2018. His passionate commitment to serving others, coupled with his diverse career experiences in law enforcement, give him a unique vision for the Office of Sheriff.
Sheriff Kimbrough was born and raised in Forsyth County, graduated from North Forsyth High School and later earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from High Point University in 1991. Kimbrough then earned his Master's degree in Leadership from Piedmont International University in 2020. In May, 2023, Kimbrough received his Doctor of Laws degree from Carolina University.
Kimbrough began his law enforcement career in 1984 as a Police Officer for the Winston-Salem Police Department. In 1987, he became an Arson Investigator with the Winston-Salem Fire Department while serving in the role of Assistant Fire Marshal. He then moved to work with high-risk offenders at the North Carolina Department of Probation and Parole.
From 1995 to 2016, Kimbrough served the United States Department of Justice as a Special Agent in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). He specialized in investigating crimes against the government, including organized crime, money laundering, gang violence, and drug trafficking. Various certifications, including Department of Justice Instructor, and his fluency in Spanish afforded him the opportunity to work extensively throughout the United States of America and other Spanish speaking countries.
Kimbrough has four decades of law enforcement experience and brings his professional experiences and personal passions to projects throughout the community. As an active community leader, he founded Branded for Knowledge, a program focusing on strengthening, empowering, and encouraging individuals to reach their full potential. Kimbrough continues to hone his leadership skills, completing the Dale Carnegie Course, Skills for Leadership. Kimbrough also completed Becoming a Leader: Developing Your Style and Making Sound Decisions, and Emotional Intelligence in Leadership courses from Harvard University in 2020.
As the first African-American Sheriff of Forsyth County, Sheriff Kimbrough has worked to improve the relationship between the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and the community, advancing technology, and enhancing the work already being done by the team members at the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office. Kimbrough led the implementation of "Surviving the Shield," a partnership with Novant Health that supports the mental health of deputies. He also led the agency to partner with Wake Forest University's School of Professional Development to create a Law Enforcement School of Executive Leadership. Technological advances have included updates to the Real Time Intelligence Center, known as RTIC as well as optimized deputy safety with Axon technology.
Despite his numerous accolades, including being an Author of three books, Kimbrough considers being a single parent raising seven sons as responsible, respectful young men to be his greatest accomplishment. In his spare time, Sheriff Kimbrough enjoys flying, reading, and spending time with his seven sons.
Bobby F. Kimbrough, Jr.
Forsyth County Sheriff
