Funeral Services Set for Hoke County Sheriff Hubert Peterkin
Funeral services have been set for Sheriff Hubert Anthony Peterkin, the Sheriff of Hoke County, who died suddenly Friday night, after complications from surgery. Peterkin was 59.
The Hoke County Sheriff’s Office said the funeral for Sheriff Peterkin will be held Friday, October 29. Viewing will be from 1-2 p.m. and services are at 2 p.m., at the Cape Fear Conference Headquarters, 10225 Fayetteville Road in Raeford.
The Sheriff’s Office posted condolences and funeral arrangements for Sheriff Peterkin’s family on social media, Monday.
“The Hoke County Sheriffās Office would like to extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife, Mrs. Della Peterkin, his children and the entire family of Dr. Hubert Anthony Peterkin. Hoke County loss a great Leader and a great Sheriff . Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time. Hoke County Staff appreciates all the calls, emails and voicemails from his constituents and citizens. Hoke County Sheriff’s Office will push forward in Dr. Hubert Anthony Peterkin’s honor in carrying on the work led behind a great man. He loved the Hoke County community, and served with diligence and great compassion. He will be remembered for all of his efforts. Keep our community in prayer together as we continue to strive.”
Peterkin served almost 20 years as sheriff in Hoke County, a place he routinely said he was proud to call home. He previously had been a Fayetteville police officer, and had led the North Carolina Sheriff’s Association at various points during his 34-year career.
Peterkin made sure the people of Hoke County knew exactly who he was and that he was there for all of them. “These are my people, and I want them to know I love each and every one of them,” Peterkin said to Beasley Media staff during an interview prior to his last election. “I’ve had opportunities to go elsewhere and do other things, but Hoke County is home, and I take great pride in making this a place everyone wants to live.”
Never a shy man, Peterkin made national news on more than one occasion. Most recently, he was seen on newscasts around the globe after his fiery speech during the memorial for George Floyd, that he helped organize in Raeford. Floyd had ties to Raeford as a young man, and has family in the area still.
Prior to the Floyd memorial, Peterkin also made news in 2018 when he wrote the controversial book “How to Stop For a Cop,” after several major national stories came out about police brutality during traffic stops – particularly with minorities.
Peterkin’s book goes into specific detail about how law enforcement is instructed to use force, deadly force, and interact with people during stops. He also outlined what people can do to help improve interactions between law enforcement and the general public. All of that is set up with Peterkin’s back story on how he ever wanted to get into law enforcement in the first place.
“I thought about what a wonderful feeling it would be to be able to help those who needed help from the bad guys,” Peterkin said of his first realization about wanting to help others as a child. “By the time I was 10, I had decided I wanted to be a cop. Every day I dreamed about saving lives and protecting people. I would tell my mother so many times, over and over again, that one day, I’m gonna be a cop.”
