Chief Deputy N.Z. “Zeb” Wiseman brings more than 35 years of distinguished service to the field of law enforcement.
A native of Salisbury, North Carolina, Chief Wiseman graduated from North Rowan High School in Spencer in 1976, where he was a three-sport athlete. He earned a football scholarship to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, and became an All-Conference and All-NAIA District 26 selection. He also received NAIA Honorable Mention All-American and Associated Press Little College Honorable Mention All-American honors. In 1980, he served as a student assistant football coach at Gardner-Webb.
Chief Wiseman began his law enforcement career with the North Carolina Department of Corrections on December 5, 1980, at Piedmont Correctional Center in Salisbury. On August 1, 1981, he joined the North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP), graduating from the 69th Basic School in December 1981 and the 71st Basic School in February 1983. His first assignment was with Troop C, District 6 in Smithfield, and in December 1982, he transferred to Troop D, District 2 in Greensboro. He served there until his retirement as a Master Trooper on January 1, 2010.
Throughout his NCSHP career, Chief Wiseman held several key roles. He was a member of the Mobile Field Force, a highly trained riot and disturbance response unit, a Field Training Officer, and a certified Driver Training Instructor. He also served on the NCSHP Executive Protection Unit, providing security for the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, U.S. Presidents, and other dignitaries in coordination with the Secret Service.
Chief Wiseman holds certifications from the North Carolina Criminal Justice Training and Standards Division and the North Carolina Sheriff’s Standards Division. He is a Certified Internal Affairs Investigator through both the Public Safety Internal Affairs Institute and the Legal & Liability Risk Management Institute. He has also completed the North Carolina Internal Affairs Investigator’s Course and is a member of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association.
Following his retirement from the Highway Patrol, Chief Wiseman was a successful business owner in Greensboro. He joined the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office on December 3, 2018, when he was sworn in as a First Lieutenant under Sheriff Danny H. Rogers. He initially served as Assistant District Commander of District 2 Patrol in McLeansville and later transferred to the same role in District 3 Patrol in Jamestown on June 1, 2019.
He was promoted to Captain on January 15, 2022, and assigned to the Professional Standards – Internal Affairs Division, where he served until March 10, 2023. On that date, he was promoted to Major over the Support Operations Bureau and joined the Sheriff’s Executive Command Staff. On December 1, 2024, he was appointed Chief Deputy of the Guilford County Sheriff’s Office.
As Chief Deputy, he serves as the Sheriff’s principal executive officer, responsible for directing, coordinating, supervising, and training agency staff, excluding areas specifically reserved for the Sheriff. He helps carry out the Sheriff’s vision by overseeing the daily operations of the agency and ensuring effective communication between the Sheriff and the command staff. He currently serves as Executive Commander over the Court Services Bureau, Special Operations Division, Personnel and Training Division, and Special Projects.
The Chief Deputy must anticipate trends and events that may impact the agency and maintain a shared vision with the Sheriff. He plays a critical role in strategic planning, agency-wide coordination, and goal achievement.