Title: Rutherford County Sheriff · Republican In this role since: December 5, 2022 Current term ends: December 2026 Next voter decision: Nov 3, 2026: won a three-way Republican primary in March over Jamie Dunn and Jason Ray Wease; no Democratic filer found, so likely unopposed (not confirmed from a primary source) (Ballotpedia) · Election 2026
Surveillance record
On February 3, 2025 Ellenburg pitched commissioners an 8-camera Flock network (6 fixed, 2 portable); his detective sergeant’s selling point was the network itself: “If you get the 8, you have access to the nationwide database.” Commissioners asked about cost, bandwidth, and DOT permits and took no vote, then or since (meeting summary · Annie Dance). Later campaign coverage refers to “11 license plate reader cameras” and a vehicle “caught at the border”; the date and source of that figure are unconfirmed and the county-owned count remains a records question (Rutherford County). His own framing of the office: “We’ve got seven officers covering 566 square miles on a good day” (Annie Dance).
The Sheriff’s Office appears on Henderson County’s list of agencies with access to Henderson’s reads, so the “nationwide database” is available to his deputies whether or not the county ever bought a camera.
ICE
No statements found (searches surface Rutherford County, Tennessee’s 287(g) program, a different county). No 287(g) agreement in North Carolina (ICE list, Aug 21, 2026).
Accountability items
The SBI investigated the county detention center over the alleged mishandling of an inmate; Ellenburg acknowledged the probe and an internal investigation (Daily Courier, date to confirm).
The question for him
How many plate readers does the county own today, and which agencies can search them? The answer has changed between 8 and 11 in his own telling.
Region: Rutherford County · Last updated: Aug 22, 2026