Daniel "Chipp" Bailey


Daniel "Chipp" Bailey was the Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina from February, 2008 to December, 2014 and a member of the Democratic Party. Bailey was appointed Sheriff of the 1430 person department by the Mecklenburg County Commission in February, 2008 to fill the vacancy of Sheriff James Pendergraph who had accepted an executive position with the Department of Homeland Security. Sheriff Bailey was elected to a four-year term on November 2, 2010 gathering 62.4% of the vote. Sheriff Bailey was succeeded in office by Deputy Captain Irwin Charmichael.
Bailey was born in Charlotte, NC and lived in Reidsville and Mount Airy as a teenager, graduating from Mount Airy High School in 1966. He received a Biology Degree from Pfeiffer College in 1970 and a master's degree in Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina in 1976. Bailey joined the Mecklenburg County Police Department in 1972 as a Patrol Officer. He later served the County Police Department as a Crime and Budget Analyst from 1982 to 1987 and an Administrative Officer for Planning, Communication and Research from 1987 to 1994. Bailey joined the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Department in 1994 as the Chief Deputy and held that position until becoming Sheriff in 2008.
He is a Matthews, North Carolina citizen, married with children.