Clarendon County Sheriff's Office DFC Smith named 2019 Officer of the Year

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MANNING - DFC Annett Smith with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office was named the 2019 Officer of the Year at the Law Enforcement Officers' Appreciation Luncheon on Thursday.

Sponsored by the F.E. DuBose Career Center's Law Enforcement Services Class and its instructor Ladell Grice, the event recognizes its 2019 Officer of the Year.

Smith was one of three Clarendon County law enforcement officers nominated for the award. Along with Smith, PFC Blake Baxley with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and Capt. Sonia Daniels with the Manning Police Department were considered for the honor.

"I give God all the glory," Smith said when she was announced as this year's Officer of the Year. "I can't believe it. I do what I do because I love my job, and I love helping people. It's what I do."

Smith said she was honored to be considered for the award and humbled as its recipient.

"I couldn't do what I do without the support of Sheriff (Tim) Baxley, my fellow officers and the community," Smith added. "I love what I do."

Clarendon County Sheriff Tim Baxley called Smith "an officer of the year every day."

"She is a dedicated person not only to the sheriff's office, but to the entire community," Baxley said. "She is one of the most passionate sheriff's office without ever letting her day-to-day duties lag. She leads her division at an activity month after month. She is truly an officer of the year every day!"

The center's Law Enforcement Services Class also remembers local law enforcement officials who have died in recent years.

This year, the students honored the late Randolph "Randy" L. Garrett Jr., who was a former sheriff of Clarendon County; the late Hayes F. Samuels Jr., who was the former Clarendon County coroner; the late Holmes N. Smith Jr., an investigator with the Clarendon County Sheriff's Office, who died in the line of duty a few years ago; and the late James Dingle, a municipal judge for the City of Manning, who died Monday after a brief illness. Family members for Garrett, Samuels and Smith were on hand to receive plaques honoring their loved ones from the class.

The speaker at this year's luncheon was Darlington Police Chief Kelvin Washington. Washington has an extensive career in law enforcement. He's served as a patrolman, narcotics agent and investigator. He served as chief investigator for the Williamsburg County Sheriff's Office before being promoted to chief deputy. He also served as the county's interim sheriff before being elected Williamsburg County sheriff in 1999, as the youngest black to be elected a sheriff in South Carolina. He served as Williamsburg County sheriff for two-and-a-half terms before being appointed by then-President Barack Obama to serve as the United States Marshal for the District of South Carolina, a position he held for eight years. In 2018, Washington was sworn in as the police chief for the City of Darlington.

"To hold a public office is to hold a public trust," Washington told the law enforcement officers in the room. "It is something that we shouldn't take lightly. Surround yourself by people who care about you and not your title."

"A good leader has to be confident," Washington said. "They have to know what they are talking about, but confidence goes beyond words."

Washington listed five things a good leader needs.

"First you need to show up," he said. "No one wants an absent leader. Put your boots on, and go out and see what is going on."

Keep improving is No. 2 on Washington's list.

"Keep improving yourself through your education," he said. "You have to train."

No. 3 on Washington's list is "follow through with excellence."

"No. 4 is accept more than is expected," he added. "And, No. 5 is inspire and motivate those we are leading."

Washington told the law enforcement officers in the audience that "talent is a gift, but character is a choice."

"You have to have care and compassion," he said. "You have to care about the people you are serving."

Washington said that he frequently looks through the body cam footage of his officers.

"I want to see how they interact with the public and the comments they make when no one is around," he said. "What is said when no one is there really says a lot. Snide remarks and ugly remarks about the people you are serving is not what we need. You have no business saying those things. We need to find someone else for that job."

Washington said he can't stress enough the importance of communicating with his personnel and the folks in the community.

"Every day when I walk into the office, I go by every single desk and say, 'Good morning,'" he said. "If I can tell that something is off, then I go back a second time to find out what isn't right. Why is that important? These folks are doing our work. I don't need them distracted from their jobs. I want to make sure these folks are OK and that they are providing a service to our community."

In ending, Washington shared some advice he received from his grandmother.

"She told me that 'Even a dog deserves the time of day,'" he added.

Washington said that isn't only important to talk to his officers, but it's also important to talk to the custodians and other personnel.

"You speak to people," he stressed. "You ask folks how they're doing. That's community service."