BY MIKE FUHRMAN

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell had the hottest ticket in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday evening.

Campbell was the guest of Rep. Patrick McHenry for the State of the Union Address delivered by President Biden to a joint session of the U.S. House, U.S. Senate, Supreme Court and Cabinet members.

The sheriff, who spent some time just outside the chamber ahead of Biden’s speech before taking his seat in the second row of Gallery 5, called it a once-in-lifetime opportunity.

“It’s a very humbling experience to see the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Supreme Court justices,” Campbell said. “To witness it was unbelievable.”

Before the State of the Union, the sheriff spent time with McHenry, Rep. Richard Hudson and Sen. Ted Budd. He also met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy during an event in his office.

In those conversations, the sheriff discussed the challenges law enforcement officers face — and the success his department has had targeting career drug offenders and violent criminals. McHenry, he said, has been a strong advocate in Washington for local law enforcement officers and first responders.

The State of the Union Address also coincided with Wednesday’s meeting of the National Sheriffs’ Association Board of Directors. Campbell represents North Carolina on that board.

Along with about 20 sheriffs from across the country, Campbell met with the directors of the ATF, FBI and U.S. Marshal’s Service for a briefing on transnational gangs, and the flow of human trafficking victims and illegal narcotics from Central and South America.

“It’s so prevalent because our borders are so unsecure,” Campbell said. “We deal with cases here in Iredell now with fentanyl and synthetic drugs that originate across our Southern border.”

The illegal sale of narcotics, he said, fuels gun violence and property crimes across the country.

As part of his role on the National Sheriffs’ Association Board, Campbell evaluates pending and needed legislation. That work, he said, has enabled him to build relationships with local law enforcement officials from across the nation.

During this trip to Washington, he talked with sheriffs from Alabama, Georgia and Florida to learn about what they are experiencing — and what’s likely headed up Interstates 77 and 40.

“I want to be ahead of it,” he said. “We want to be ahead of the curve here.”

Crime in Iredell County has declined more than 50 percent during Campbell’s tenure as sheriff. He attributes that to his department’s civic engagement and interdiction efforts.

The underlying goal, Campbell said, is to create a safe environment for residents and an unwelcoming one for criminals.

“The criminals see what we do. They know we are proactive here. I’d rather prevent it than have to investigate it.”