RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - The longest-serving sheriff in Guilford County has been honored with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine award. B.J. Barnes received the award in Greensboro last week.

Barnes has focused much of his tenure as Sheriff on crime reduction, according to a statement from Gov. Pat McCrory's office. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has approximately 650 employees. The Sheriff is responsible for 652 square miles and over 465,000 citizens. The Guilford County Sheriff’s Office has experienced a 46 percent reduction in crime under Sheriff Barnes.
 
Sheriff and Dena Barnes have two daughters, two granddaughters and four grandsons. They live in Summerfield.