Clanton was hired by the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office as a part-time officer in 1991. She became a full-time Patrol Deputy in 1993. She taught D.A.R.E. in Alexander County Schools from 1996-2002 and was then promoted to Detective Sergeant. In 2013, Clanton was promoted to Chief Detective, becoming the first female to fill the position. In addition to her regular duties, she supervised records, gun permits, concealed weapon permits, Marsy’s Law, and the NC Sex Offender Registry for the county.
Over the years, she attained a two-year degree in Criminal Justice and a four-year degree in Criminal Justice; earned Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Law Enforcement Certificates; logged 1,000 hours in the Basic and Advanced Network Forensics CSI program; and completed the Criminal Investigation Certificate Program from the NC Justice Academy. She had over 1,000 hours of death investigations as well.
Sheriff Bowman praised Clanton’s work ethic and accomplishments. “I know she would come in to work early in the mornings, about 6 o’clock most of the time, and stay until into the afternoons and evenings,” said Sheriff Bowman. “A lot of [her activities] she took upon herself to see that they got done. Donna is special; always has been, and always will be.”
Clanton said to her fellow officers, “Today is bittersweet. There’s a lot of emotion. I’m happy. I’m happy that I’ve survived this, that I’m not like a lot of our brothers and sisters in blue, who haven’t made it. I’m also sad because I counted up yesterday: only four years of my adult life have been away from [the Sheriff’s Office]. Since 1991, you have been my family…I pray for your safety every day.”
Alexander County Government and the Alexander County Sheriff’s Office would like to express great appreciation to Donna Clanton for her dedicated service to the citizens of Alexander County. Congratulations on your retirement!