'Rest easy, brother': Carrboro police mourn death of former officer

A former Carrboro police officer has died.

2026-01-05

In a post on Facebook on Monday, police said Officer Paul Atherton died.

"Please keep the family and friends of Paul in your thoughts and prayers," the post reads in part. "Rest easy, brother."

Atherton served with the Carrboro Police Department for 10 years, and continued serving the community for years after his law enforcement career.

Atherton served as a magistrate for Orange County, a deputy clerk in the Clerk's Office, a drug treatment coordinator and worked with the judges' office as a juvenile court/school liaison.

Officers said he loved reading and cross-country, and even coached cross-country for Chapel Hill/Carrboro schools.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced.