OPINION: Platform for sheriff is new era in Sumter County

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This is my platform for sheriff of Sumter County 2020. This platform represents a new era in Sumter County and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office for the third decade of the 21st century. It is just simply "time for change."

I don't know what the current sheriff's intention is as it relates to running for re-election. If Anthony Dennis chooses to run again, I wish him well. If he chooses not to seek re-election, I wish him the best in whatever endeavors he pursues. Anthony Dennis has served as sheriff of Sumter County almost 16 years and should be recognized for his service.

However, this platform represents a new era in law enforcement in Sumter County.

- Fairness - This will be the hallmark of my administration. Every citizen or visitor will be treated with dignity and respect regardless of the race, religion, national origin, political affiliation, familial position or any other extraneous reasons. No one is above the law, and no one is beneath the law. Promotions will be based on merit, and arrests will be based on probable cause. Lady justice is blind, and the blindfold will stay on during my administration.

- Create an Intelligence Unit - I will form a two-person intelligence unit with the responsibilities of collecting, correlating and analyzing criminal data such as statistics on crime in each sector of Sumter County, data on career criminals, data on violent criminals, data on drug sales and abuse. It will also be responsible for implementing a system that will use this data to prevent crime. This unit will also have the responsibility of maintaining a good working relationship with all of our local, state and federal partners in order to ensure the most up-to-date statistics and information.

- Create two Litter Control Analysts - I will assign an officer from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office and an officer from the Sumter County Correctional Center to collect and analyze data on litter in each sector of Sumter County, document the problem and come up with solutions on handling the problem of litter in Sumter County. These officers will also be responsible for litter enforcement/investigations, litter control and inmate/citizens litter pickup and anti-litter projects. The officers will present a report to me on a monthly basis on the progress of litter control in Sumter County. I along with this unit will make Sumter the most litter-free county in South Carolina.

- CRASH Team - Crime Reduction and Suppression Hunters - This highly trained and skilled four-person unit will be responsible for crime reduction and suppression throughout Sumter County. This unit will have additional training in saturation strategies, community relations and progressive enforcement tactics without violating the rights of citizens that are not involved in criminal activities. This unit will work every section of Sumter County with the same professional standards, proficiency and fairness no matter the sections or residents.

- Expand the administrative hours of the sheriff's office until 10 p.m. The sheriff's office in this new progressive era will not close its doors on the citizens of this county at 5 p.m.

- Promote a climate where people in the entertainment business or seeking to get into the entertainment business will be allowed to hire off-duty officers to work their establishments to ensure that their patrons have a safe environment in which to socialize and have fun. These are taxpaying individuals also.

- 24-Hour Investigative Services - Implement 24 hours investigative services that will allow follow-up with citizens and investigative leads left over from the day shift. There will be at least two investigators working the overnight shift. These two investigators will also be responsible for checking on officers working entertainment locations and for checking hotspots overnight in unmarked or non-descript vehicles.

- Have the minimal number of officers allowed by law working security at the courthouses. The responsibility of running the courtroom will be returned to the bailiffs. This will put more officers on the street where they belong - serving and protecting the citizens of Sumter County.

- Demand an arm-distance relationship between the judges (Judicial Branch) and the officer (Administrative Branch) to ensure that citizens who have to be charged with a crime are not intimidated by what may appear to be too cozy of a relationship between the judges and the officers of the sheriff's office.

- Hire a criminal profiler and a forensic artist.

- Ethics Officer - This officer will have the responsibility for the enforcement of the highest ethical standards of professionalism and ethical conduct by me, as sheriff, and all officers and staff at the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. This officer will be charged with ensuring compliance of the highest standard of conduct by all members of the sheriff's office and will have full authority to investigate any and all ethic complaints against members of my administration. This officer will be responsible for submitting a quarterly report to me outlining and detailing any ethics complaints, the action taken and a policy and plan on how to prevent the action from repeating itself.

- Community Crime Task Forces - These task forces will consist of three to five members from each section of Sumter County (Mayesville, St. John, Rembert/Dalzell, Shaw AFB/Cherryvale, Pinewood/Wedgefield, Sumter South, Sumter East, Sumter West, Sumter North and the City of Sumter) with the responsibilities of assisting the sheriff's office in identifying crime problem areas and criminals in their area. This group will assist the sheriff's office in coming up with solutions that fit their particular area. One member from each section will also be a member of the Sheriff's Task Force on Crime with the responsibility of implementing county-wide crime reduction strategies and suggestions that are specific to the county as a whole.

- Community Outreach - Schools, churches, clubs, community groups, other stakeholders to help determine what programs and plans would be beneficial to the citizens of Sumter County.

- Collaborate with the lab at Morris College - This will help with training crime scene investigators and forensic specialists in the intricacies of up-to-date technology and methods in solving crimes.

- Introduce drone technology to protect the citizens from being mistaken to have a weapon such as a cellphone for a gun by the officers, which could lead to an officer-involved shooting, and to protect the officers from individuals with weapons or other items that could cause death or injury to the officers.

- No charges for funerals - The last thing a family should have to be burdened with is paying the sheriff's office or funeral homes for a funeral escort. The escort officers will be professionally dressed and will show respect and dignity to the deceased and the family of the deceased. Funeral homes - NO charges for funeral escorts on a family's bill!

- Create additional internships for students at USC Sumter, Central Carolina Technical College and Morris College - To collaborate with our three sister colleges of higher education to create more internships for students seeking a career in law enforcement. More hands-on experience for these students, as well as ride-alongs with seasoned and highly professional and ethical officers.

- Expand the Explorer Program for high school students - Create or expand the explorers and cadet programs for high school students from Thomas Sumter Academy, Sumter High, Wilson Hall, Crestwood, Lakewood, St. Anne and St. Francis Xavier high schools.

- I will also protect those officers and staff that are employed by the Sumter County Sheriff's Office as long as they follow two rules: 1) Treat everyone the way you want to be treated or a member of your family be treated; 2) At the end of your shift, go home safe and sound. (Be careful out there!)

Thank you for your input.

BENNY L. WEBB

Sumter