The first vote that ended in a deadlock for Weldon Police Chief Mark Macon and the second vote that gave Tripp the appointment came after a brief closed session during the Halifax County Board of Commissioners meeting. 

On the first try Commissioner Carolyn Johnson motioned to appoint Macon as the interim sheriff on a second from Marcelle Smith. The commissioners deadlocked with Johnson, Smith and board Chair James Pierce voting in favor of the motion and Vernon Bryant, Rachel Hux and Rives Manning voting against it. 

(Tripp will be sworn in as sheriff at 9:30 Wednesday morning in the superior courtroom of the Halifax County courthouse complex in Halifax) 

Pierce came up with the motion to appoint Tripp, prefacing his motion with comments on why the board should move forward. “I was asked a few days ago, 'Do you guys ever have any easy decisions?'” 

Pierce said he answered the question by saying, “'Yes, we have plenty but we tend to make them hard.'” Pierce continued, “If we continue to stay deadlocked the acting sheriff will be Wes Tripp. We further polarize our community and that's not our goal. We need to do something to put that behind us.” 

Pierce proceeded with his motion to appoint Tripp, which on a second by Bryant, won approval from all but Johnson. 

Macon, who was at the meeting, had no comment. 

Tripp, who was not present on the initial vote, but came later, said during a break, “It's good that the commissioners have reached a decision. We will continue with our work.” 

Tripp complimented the other potential appointees — Tyree Davis, Chuck Hasty, Macon and James Warren — calling them all qualified candidates. “Our main focus will be to carry forward our work as professionals in the Halifax County Sheriff's Office and continue to move forward to have fair, just and equal law enforcement for the citizens of Halifax County.” 

Tripp has already announced his intentions to file for office in February and said his work under three previous sheriffs has helped guide him in his career. “All three worked hard to make Halifax County a good place to live.” 

Pierce said following the meeting there was no outside pressure to come to a decision today. “The only pressure was on myself to put the decision behind us.”