UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A former Salisbury police officer who resigned from his position after a controversial video showing him reportedly mishandling his K-9 partner is now working for the Union County Sheriff’s Office.
James Hampton, who resigned from the Salisbury Police Department in 2021 following the incident, was recently sworn in as a deputy sheriff in Union County.
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The sheriff’s office welcomed Hampton and two other new hires during a ceremony in July 2025, sharing the announcement on social media.
The viral video that led to Hampton’s resignation showed him lifting his K-9, named Zuul, off the ground by its leash and striking the dog. Though criticized, no criminal charges were filed after investigations concluded Hampton’s actions didn’t meet the threshold for prosecution.
The Rowan County District Attorney’s Office initially said it could not pursue charges without a formal criminal investigation. The State Bureau of Investigation declined to step in, citing insufficient evidence of a felony…