Former Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Barker Dies

Former Forsyth County Sheriff Ron Barker has died. 

Barker served as sheriff from 1990 to 2002.

The Thomasville native was a graduate of Wake Forest University. The Winston-Salem Journal reports Barker was a science teacher and sports coach before entering law enforcement.

He helped start the department's first homicide division and instituted programs devoted to crime prevention and prisoner rehabilitation.

Barker also oversaw an investigation into a complicated Triad murder case that was recounted in the best-selling book, Bitter Blood.

Following his tenure as Forsyth County Sheriff, Barker worked as a reserve sheriff for Davidson County.

Relatives say Barker died Tuesday after a battle with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He was 86.