Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office

Rickie “Allen” Pearson Jr. was devoted deputy sheriff, beloved husband and friend and brother to all.  Allen was a Criminal Investigator in the Detective’s Division of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office in Kinston, NC.  Allen had been with the Sheriff’s Office for approximately 8 years.  Allen had served in numerous positions including Detention Officer, Civil Deputy, Patrol Deputy, and Interdiction Officer and to his final promotion of Detective.  Allen also volunteered as an active member of the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team (S.W.A.T.).  Allen was assigned to the entry team and was specially trained on numerous tactics including building entry and rifle skills.

On April 8, 2009, Lenoir County deputies were dispatched to the Tick Bite Area of Lenoir County to investigate a person shooting a gun.  When deputies arrived, they took fire from an unknown suspect who had fled into a wooded area after shooting into homes.  The Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team was activated to respond to the incident.  SRT members arrived and surrounded the suspect.  The suspect was identified during the incident as a murder suspect from Craven County.  With assistance from the North Carolina State Highway Patrol helicopter equipped with infrared technology, the suspect was located in the woods.  An arrest team was sent into the woods to arrest the suspect.   When the arrest team encountered the suspect, he fired an unprovoked shot and fatally wounded Detective Allen Pearson.   At this scene numerous departments including law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel all worked to help Allen and protect the citizens of Lenoir County.

Allen was a dedicated sheriff’s deputy, volunteer firefighter, softball player, t-ball coach and community servant.  Allen loved his job, his family and his friends.  Allen’s service to this community, courage in time of danger and desire to protect the citizens he served is a model for all law enforcement officers and other public servants to follow.  Allen is the only law enforcement officer known to have been killed by gunfire in Lenoir County history.

Allen is survived by his wife, Katherine Woodyard Pearson; his mother, Joy Pearson; his father, Rickie Allen Pearson, Sr.; and his sister Kelly Pearson Johnson.  Both Katherine and Kelly are life members of the Board of Directors of this foundation. 

Allen has been posthumously awarded the Law Enforcement Purple Heart and Medal of Valor for his actions on April 8, 2009.  The Kinston-Lenoir County Parks and Recreation Commission has renamed the Neuseway Park as “Pearson Park” in his honor.  Allen’s last call sign at the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office was “LC105” which has been retired in his honor.  Allen made the ultimate sacrifice for law enforcement and is a true Hero to all. 

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