Kirkland sworn in as Swain County Sheriff, announces 2026 campaign
Brian Kirkland, who served as interim sheriff in Swain County following the scandalous retirement of Curtis Cochran, has been appointed to serve out the rest of the current term.
Kirkland, 45, is from Swain County. He has served in law enforcement for 25 years and was the sheriff’s office’s administrative captain between 2011 and March of this year, at which point he was promoted to chief deputy.
Last month, Cochran, who is 72 and had served as sheriff since 2006, was hit with numerous criminal charges, including second-degree rape, stemming from the alleged sexual assault of three women.
Shortly after Cochran’s arrest, District Attorney Ashley Welch filed a petition for his removal from office. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers suspended Cochran, setting a hearing in Graham County for July 7 to review the suspension and a final determination in Swain County for July 21 on the petition to remove Cochran. However, he retired on July 1, before those hearings could be held.
Kirkland was named interim sheriff when his former boss retired.
Last Tuesday, July 29, Swain County commissioners voted 4-1 to appoint Kirkland to the role; Commissioner David Loftis provided the lone dissenting vote, opining that he’d like to see someone with closer ties to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. In accordance with state law, the recommendation for Kirkland’s appointment was sent to commissioners by the executive committee of the Swain County Republican Party.
Related Items
Meetings set on updated flood risk data
Please vote in the Primary
Disgusted that voters were duped
Macon County bookkeeper sentenced for embezzlement scheme
The next day, Kirkland was sworn in by District Court Judge Justin Greene, also a Swain County Native.
“It is my honor to say for the first time in 20 years, there is a new sheriff in town,” Greene said as he shook Kirkland’s hand.
The Swain County Sheriff is up for election in November 2026. On the morning of Aug. 4, Kirkland confirmed to The Smoky Mountain News that he planned on running as the incumbent. In the meantime, he believes he’s the best person to step into the role of sheriff and said he is ready to continue to serving residents.
“I’m looking forward to doing a good job and trying to keep the county safe,” Kirkland said. “I’ve got a tremendous amount of great employees there, and we’re all there for the right reasons, which is to protect the citizens of Swain County.”
