Dillon County residents team with sheriff's office for reserve deputy program

DILLON — The Dillon County Sheriff’s Office hascreated a program officials hope will cut down on both crime and expenses.

The sheriff’s office was facing a budget shortfall because of strained economic conditions throughout the county, as well as a consistent amount of property crimes and even some murder cases.

“Crime is on the increase and manpower is a problem,” Hulon said.

To help deal with both situations, Dillon County Sheriff Major Hulon and Chief Deputy Larry Abraham decided to develop a reserve deputy program.

“Because of the budget, we didn’t have enough to get the number of officers that we needed, so we decided to come up with the reserve program, which is volunteers,” Abraham said.

The sheriff’s office turned to ordinary residents of Dillon County who either had an interest or background in law enforcement.

Five new reserve deputies volunteered for the intensive three-month training program which began in early February and will end in late April.

Hulon said the reserve deputies will receive the same training as a Class I officer, and will be able to perform the functions of a law enforcement officer on the streets of Dillon County.

“These reserve deputies will be able to assist our deputies who are already working,” he said.

Once the reserve deputies complete their training in Dillon County, they will go to the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia where they will have to make a satisfactory score on tests to be deputized, Hulon said.

Some of those who volunteered their time to become deputies said they had become increasingly concerned about the level of violence in their communities and saw getting involved as the only way to help take back their streets.

“This community has a lot of people that are elderly and young people that need people to look up to ... the elderly need people, as well, and you’ve got to be there for them, and they’ve got to be there for us,” said Richard Lane, who is training to become a reserve deputy.

“Hearing all of the things that have been going on on the news, I definitely wanted to step up and make a presence known,” said Linda Malmquist, who is also in reserve deputy training, “and if we get more officers out on the street maybe we can help solve some crimes and deter some criminals at the same time

Hulon said the reserve deputy program is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

“It has piqued some interest and people are coming forward, volunteering,” Hulon said. “They’re willing to use their eyes and ears ... they are very helpful, want to help, and they are learning things they can do to help us and we are learning things we can do to help them…and it’s gonna be a big help, a big asset to the sheriff’s office.”

“It means a lot to us, it means a lot to the sheriff, just to know that the people are concerned about the citizens of Dillon County,” Abraham said.

In addition to the five residents who have volunteered to become reserve deputies, the sheriff’s office has a reserve deputy who has been with the office for several years.

Abraham said the office has 28 deputies on staff.

The reserve deputy training program ends April 22, after which the trainees will complete tests at the Criminal Justice Academy. If successful, they then will return to be sworn in as reserve deputies in Dillon County.