Jon Gump, who serves as a Deputy Sheriff for the Dare County Sheriff’s Department, has been named Dare County Employee of the Month for May 2026. The prestigious award was presented to Deputy Gump by Chief Deputy Jeff Deringer during the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9, 2026.*

Deputy Gump’s service to Dare County began on December 14, 2020, when he was initially hired to serve as a Detention Officer at the Dare County Detention Center in Manteo. Less than two years later, on September 19, 2022, he was promoted to the position of Detention Assistant Shift Leader before taking on his current role as Deputy Sheriff on January 8, 2024.   

“We were fortunate,” said Deringer as he began his presentation before the Dare County Board of Commissioners. “Jon started at the Detention Center in 2020, and he showed an interest in being a Deputy four years later, in 2024. Sheriff Doug [Doughtie] sent him to BLET (Basic Law Enforcement Training), where he graduated with honors.”

Chief Deputy Jeff Deringer presents the award to Deputy Gump during the Board of Commissioners meeting.

Deringer continued his remarks by highlighting Gump’s extensive knowledge of civil process—the legal documents and procedures used to initiate, enforce and administer non-criminal disputes between private individuals, organizations or businesses, including court summonses, complaints, subpoenas, eviction notices, writs and civil warrants. 

“Jon is on par with civil process,” said Deringer. “As all of you know, civil process is an extremely important part of the Sheriff’s Office and constitutional law. Jon knows, even though he’s only been in his position since 2024. He checks them every morning. He serves them precisely without errors. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it’s a big deal to the Sheriff’s Office because an error can affect the public greatly.”

As he continued his presentation, Deringer read some of the remarks written by Gump’s colleagues who nominated him for the Employee of the Month Award. 

“Deputy Gump is the most independent deputy on shift,” read Deringer. “Deputy Gump is given a task and completes it without hesitation. One of the responsibilities Deputy Gump has been given is to maintain the civil process for the Colington District. During every shift, Deputy Gump attempts to complete—and completes—his returns on time and accurately. But his best attribute is him being an older deputy that has the experience. He acts like a father. He acts like a friend to the younger deputies, and he always assists when needed.” 

Deputy Gump stands with his family members who attended the presentation.

Deringer also fondly recalled one of his meetings with Gump that occurred shortly after he transferred from the Dare County Detention Center to the Sheriff’s Office to become a Deputy, noting Gump’s passion and enthusiasm for the new role he was about to take on. 

“When Jon switched over and we were sitting in my office, he was like, ‘Man, I’m excited. I always wanted to be a deputy. I always wanted to do this,’” Deringer told the Board of Commissioners. “Having that enthusiasm is rare when it comes to going into a new job, even though it’s still within the Sheriff’s Office, but his drive is extremely high. Every single morning, Jon’s early, and I don’t mean just a few minutes—I mean like an hour! It is my honor to present him, from his peers and the county, with the Employee of the Month award.”

Dare County Deputy Sheriff Gump stands in front of the bronze Dare County seal holding his framed certificate.

For more information about the Dare County Sheriff’s Office, visit DareNC.gov/Sheriff.