Answering theTough Questions

It was a beyond tragic incident that affected multiple families, and when people do not have all the facts, it is natural to have questions.

As I have stated previously, my wife received a call and I immediately left our home to render aid. I contacted the Shift Supervisor and remained on scene. I provided witness statements to both the Internal Affairs investigator and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).

Because I am anticipated to be a witness in both the criminal proceedings and pending civil litigation, I am legally and ethically obligated not to discuss details that could compromise those cases. I am not the subject of any disciplinary action by the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. I am not the subject of a criminal investigation by SLED. I am not named in any of the pending civil lawsuits.

If I had violated policy, acted improperly, or committed a crime, there would have been disciplinary action, criminal charges, or civil liability. None of those things occurred.

My focus remains where it belongs: protecting the integrity of the judicial process and respecting the victims involved.

Yes, I held the rank of Lieutenant for 10 days before resigning to run for Sheriff. What most people do not know is that Lieutenant Bob DiCarlo retired, creating a vacancy. I applied for that promotion before I knew Sheriff Tanner would retire and before I decided to run for Sheriff.

What often gets left out is that I spent well over a decade serving in supervisory positions within the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office before that promotion. I do not believe the quality of leadership is defined by a title. It is defined by years of experience managing people, making decisions, solving problems, and being accountable for outcomes.

While many of my assignments were headquartered in Hilton Head, my work has never been limited to one area. Throughout my career I have worked road patrol, investigations, special operations, county-wide initiatives, and major incidents across Beaufort County, a county of more than 204,000 people.

Unlike my opponent, I spent the last twenty years serving inside the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office, right up until I filed to run for Sheriff. I know that residents of each area have different concerns and priorities. The priorities North of the Broad River are not the same as the South, and that is important to recognize.

The Sheriff's Office has changed dramatically over the last five years, let alone eight or ten. Technology, staffing, investigative methods, training standards, community expectations, and public safety concerns have all evolved. It is not the same Sheriff's Office that existed years ago.

I stepped away from the department only because policy requires it and because it is the right and ethical thing to do when you run for Sheriff. That means my experience inside BCSO is current and firsthand. I know the people, the challenges, the strengths, and the opportunities for improvement. I will not spend my first year relearning the organization. I can begin making improvements on day one while keeping our department strong and intact.

Effective Sheriffs do not personally perform every assignment within every unit. Their job is to build strong teams, develop strong leaders, establish clear priorities, and ensure every division has the resources necessary to succeed.

Yes.

I have dedicated more than twenty years to serving Beaufort County. During that time I have worked throughout the county and have firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing Northern Beaufort County, including violent crime, gang activity, narcotics trafficking, traffic concerns, juvenile crime, and quality-of-life issues.

The people living in Northern Beaufort County deserve to know their Sheriff understands those challenges and is committed to addressing them. I do.

There is an important distinction between crime statistics and how people actually feel in their communities. When I say Beaufort County is a safe place to live, I am referring to crime data that consistently shows our county performs better than many counties across South Carolina. Those real numbers matter, but it also matters whether a resident feels safe at home, at work, at school, and everywhere else.

Statistics alone do not determine whether someone feels safe walking into a store, driving through their neighborhood, or letting their children play outside. If residents are telling us they feel less safe than they did ten years ago, law enforcement should listen. I do not dismiss those concerns. In fact, they are one of the reasons I am running for Sheriff.

Regarding Sheriff Tanner's comments following the St. Helena shooting, his statement was made while suspects remained at large after a mass shooting. Under those circumstances, it would have been irresponsible to suggest there was no ongoing threat. I believe his comments have often been taken out of context.

Can Beaufort County be safer? Absolutely. That is why I am focused on improving recruitment and retention, increasing proactive enforcement, expanding youth engagement, strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, and building stronger connections between deputies and the communities they serve.

Whether a call falls under the Sheriff's Office, Beaufort Police Department, Port Royal Police Department, or another agency does not change the fact that citizens notice what is happening around them. When residents tell me they are concerned about speeding, reckless driving, youth crime, break-ins, or repeat offenders, I take those concerns seriously.

One of my goals as Sheriff is to increase visible law enforcement presence in communities and improve communication between deputies and residents. People should know who their deputies are and feel comfortable bringing concerns directly to them.

Accountability, enforcement, and community engagement must work together if we want to improve quality of life throughout the county.

Yes.

I support participation in the 287(g) program and intend to enter into a new agreement once elected Sheriff.

I believe strong partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies improve public safety. Criminal activity does not stop at jurisdictional boundaries, and law enforcement agencies must work together when appropriate to protect our communities.

My plan focuses on five priorities.

• Strengthening partnerships with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
• Supporting tougher prosecution of violent offenders and gang members.
• Expanding youth engagement programs and mentorship opportunities.
• Increasing recruitment and retention to put more deputies on the street.
• Expanding proactive enforcement efforts focused on violent crime and narcotics.

I also support efforts to strengthen South Carolina's ability to prosecute organized criminal activity through enhanced racketeering statutes. Most importantly, prevention matters. We must provide young people with positive alternatives before gangs and criminal organizations become attractive options.

Traffic concerns are among the most common issues I hear from residents. Beaufort County has experienced tremendous growth, and our infrastructure has struggled to keep pace. While law enforcement alone cannot solve traffic congestion, we can improve traffic enforcement.

• Issued more than 8,000 warnings.
• Issued more than 6,500 traffic citations.
• Investigated approximately 1,100 crashes.
• Responded to more than 140,000 calls for service.

Those numbers demonstrate commitment, but there is room for improvement. As Sheriff, I plan to assign deputies whose primary responsibility is traffic enforcement, rather than requiring them to balance it with routine calls for service. More focused enforcement means greater visibility and safer roads.

One of the most important responsibilities of a Sheriff is maintaining strong relationships with the community. I plan to establish a dedicated Community Engagement Team responsible for outreach, youth programs, community events, school partnerships, and public education initiatives.

I also want to expand programs such as the Junior Deputy Academy and create additional opportunities for youth to interact with deputies, investigators, and K-9 teams through schools, demonstrations, mentorship programs, and community events.

Too many young people are being influenced by gangs, drugs, violence, and social media. Law enforcement must be part of the solution by building positive relationships early and consistently.