Local law enforcement agencies create initiatives to combat officer shortage
CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD)–Agencies in the Lowcountry said they’re feeling the impact of a nationwide shortage of law enforcement officers. Still, they’re taking action to get ahead of the issue.
Officials said they’re facing staffing shortages, and they blame several factors ranging from negative public perception, pay, and burnout, and now they’re taking steps to fill the gap.
The Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office has created a position focused solely on recruiting and educating the public about working in law enforcement.
“We’re getting ready to start our explore program, our deputy explore program, and it’s going to be a great transition program where we get young children that come in and learn about law enforcement, they learn about discipline and structure, and they participate in athletic events,” said Sam Richardson, the sheriff for Dorchester County.
Over at the Charleston County sheriff’s office, the agency started hosting job fairs to meet the growing need. They said the fairs have helped, but filling such an important role is not always easy.
“A lot of the time, you interact with people during the worst times of their life, so it is very heavy, and it’s a very serious role, of course; we want people who are very serious to come and reach out to us,” said Lexi Douglas, the public informational officer for Charleston County sheriff office.
Both agencies said having good people on their teams is critical to safety in the community.
“We are a team that works smoothly together, and we want to see each other excel and reach our dreams. If your dream is to work for a particular department, we want to get you there,” said Douglas.
If you’re interested in joining one of the agencies, click the links below:
Charleston County Sheriff’s Office:
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office
