By Rick Abercrombie
Lieutenant Lee Barrett, a member of Lexington Sheriff’s Department Community Action Team, was a recent speaker at St. Andrews Optimists’ breakfast meeting. Lt. Barrett first rendered a broad “macro” picture of the Department’s coverage and then listed a variety of services offered.
The County does not house a prison, per se, so the county jail is where inmates are kept. The county extends from Pelion to the south to Chapin to the north. By far the greatest concentration of residents is in the northeast corner of the county, whereas the farther south one wanders within its borders, the more it becomes sparsely populated and agricultural.
Lexington County was the first in the state to employ School Resource Officers, and the first such school was Brookland-Cayce High School.
Barrett’s official assignment is: “To work as a professional law enforcement team to build relationships with those we are sworn to serve.”
As such, Barrett’s team offers several approaches to living up to its mission statement. The ideal end result would be to make Lexington County the best location in the state to live, work, worship, and play. What follows is a summary of the ways in which the team carries out that goal.
Resident Deputies: These officers live and work within defined communities to build trust with the residents and businesses. These deputies organize and conduct community social events in which residents and deputies build a rapport. Residents become confident that the Department is on their side and is devoted to their safety.
School Resource Deputy: While fulfilling their first priority, that of safety, these deputies also become trusted confidants for students. Deputies are present on-site every day and move among the student body to become a consistent presence. Teachers feel safe to teach, and students feel safe to learn.
Code Enforcement Deputy: In unincorporated areas of the county, deputies identify and address nuisance code infractions. They are vigilant at spotting eyesores that can be improved once pointed out to offenders. They work as a bridge between county government and residents.
Neighborhood Watch: Residents are encouraged to be alert for suspicious or harmful situations about which deputies might not yet be aware. Again, the fostering of rapport and trust combines with whatever actions prove necessary to prove to those residents that the Department is on their side and is responsive. Barrett stressed that an effective neighborhood watch system shows would-be perpetrators that they are being seen. LCSD offers Neighborhood Watch signs for posting throughout the community.
National Night Out: An opportunity in a casual setting for citizens to interact with law enforcement. These events are staged throughout the U.S. in August.
LCSD Citizens Academy: Offered twice a year, citizens attend nine sessions where they become more familiar with the Department’s activities and capabilities. It is not unusual for graduates of the academy to function as advocates for LCSD within their communities.
Phone Guard: Among the elderly, there are cases where people are isolated and not able to reach out for assistance. Once those seniors qualify and are registered, a person in the Department contacts them daily. If contact is not made, a deputy is dispatched to the residence to provide assistance if warranted.
Security Survey And Assessment: A deputy will visit a residence with an eye for vulnerability and will offer helpful recommendations to tighten the home’s security.
Project Lifesaver: LCSD strives to single out citizens who have cognitive conditions and who tend to wander away. The Department knows that the extremes of such conditions may endanger the life of the client. The local organization is part of an international program whose goal is “bringing loved ones home.”
Smart 911: In this program any individual can register relevant information in an account. Items such as home addresses, medical conditions, emergency contacts, and even pet information can be part of that database. Once those details are on record, when the caller contacts 911, all that information instantly appears. This step creates faster response times.
RID-A-MED: Expired or unused medications can be dropped off at the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Department.
Pictured are Optimist Club President David Kafitz, speaker sponsor Kerry Powers and Lt. Barrett. The speaker received a copy of the Optimist Creed.
