Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden faced sharp criticism Monday after repeatedly failing to answer a basic civics question at a North Carolina House Oversight Committee hearing.
Republican Rep. Allen Chesser pressed the sheriff on the matter amid ongoing concerns over immigration enforcement and public safety following the murder of Ukrainian national Iryna Zarutska last August.
When Chesser asked McFadden, “What branch of government do you operate under?” the sheriff initially replied, “Mecklenburg County,” then “The Constitution of the United States,” and finally, after clarification, “I believe I fall under the last one … judicial.”
Chesser corrected him: “You are incorrect, sir. You fall under the executive.”
The exchange quickly drew criticism from lawmakers and observers, who said McFadden’s inability to answer a basic civics question raises concerns about his understanding of fundamental responsibilities.
Legal analysts noted that knowledge of the executive branch and statutory duties is critical for consistent law enforcement and public trust. Misunderstanding these basics could lead to uneven application of laws and place residents at risk.
The hearing also revisited McFadden’s controversial stance on immigration, Fox News reported.
Chesser cited past comments in which the sheriff said his office had no role in enforcement and did not need to follow certain laws set by lawmakers in Raleigh.
McFadden clarified that the remarks referred solely to immigration enforcement and confirmed his office now complies with state law requiring cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“We follow the law, when the law is produced, we follow the law,” he said.
Chesser emphasized that law enforcement should be uniform across the state.
“All North Carolinians, and all people who find themselves in North Carolina, should be able to count on one thing when it comes to public safety, and that is whether or not you are safe and whether or not the law will be enforced is not dependent on what county you find yourself in,” he said.
Observers noted that the civics misstep could have real-world implications beyond embarrassment.
Misunderstanding the scope of the executive branch or a sheriff’s statutory responsibilities may affect decisions in critical incidents, potentially leading to misapplied laws or legal challenges.
Critics argued that public safety depends on elected officials who understand both the limits and authority of their office.
Chesser expressed surprise at the sheriff’s unfamiliarity with basic government principles.
“I was not expecting to have to get into a fifth-grade civics lesson with a duly elected sheriff,” he said. “Obviously, those weren’t the cache of questions that I was thinking we were going to get him on. We made it to [only] one of those statements because we got held up on what I thought was baseline, just kind of setting a baseline of how we were to establish that his role is to enforce the law.”
The hearing underscored broader concerns about accountability and leadership in Mecklenburg County. McFadden’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
The incident has intensified criticism of McFadden’s competency, underscoring that public office demands a firm grasp of government structures to enforce the law and protect residents.
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