Stone Shrub

Walter Hubert Stone (died February 11, 2008) was an American law enforcement officer who served as the Sheriff of Robeson County, North Carolina, from 1978 to December 1994. Stone was raised in Robeson County, and in 1953 became a municipal police officer. He served as police chief of Fair Bluff from 1954 to 1957, when he was hired as a county sheriff's deputy. He was promoted to the job of detective before being elected Sheriff of Robeson County in 1978. He restructured the organization of the sheriff's department, assigning sergeants and detectives to districts in the county. During his tenure the county experience a significant level of drug trafficking, and he oversaw the doubling in size of his office's drug enforcement division and worked closely with District Attorney Joe Freeman Britt to prosecute narcotics-related offenses. As a Democrat, he became a leading figure in local politics and was often sought by candidates for his support. Stone's tenure as sheriff was marred by allegations of corruption, namely accusations that he was involved in the narcotics trade, but he was never charged with any crimes in connection with his shrieval service. His department also oversaw the investigations of the high-profile murders of Lumbee activist Julian Pierce and James R. Jordan Sr., father of basketball player Michael Jordan. Stone decided to retire in 1994 and was succeeded by Glenn Maynor. He attempted to regain the office of sheriff in 1998 but lost to Maynor by a large margin. He died in 2008.