Multi-agency task force to focus on drug crimes

DARLINGTON — The heads of five law enforcement agencies in Darlington County and the Fourth Circuit solicitor announced the formation of a new multi-jurisdictional task force to combat drug and other vice crimes in the county.

Darlington County Sheriff Wayne Byrd, Hartsville Police Chief Tim Kemp, Darlington Police Chief Jay Cox, Lamar Police Chief Charles Woodle, Society Hill Police Chief Jessie Rogers and Fourth Circuit Solicitor Will Rogers held a joint press conference Friday to announce the formation of the new task force.

Byrd said the new unit will be the largest of its kind in the history of Darlington County.

“It’s significant that we all came together to do this,” Byrd said. “It’s also significant that we got the solicitor to be a part of this. We’re working together as a team.”

Working together will allow the agencies to combine resources to combat illegal drugs, Byrd said.

“In a day of budget cuts and economic uncertainty, this is a way to have resources come together and focus on stopping the threat that the drug trade brings to this county,” he said.

The unit will also work with state and federal law enforcement agencies, the sheriff said.

“Everyone is on board with this operation and willing to put the manpower towards a common goal,” Byrd said.

Any revenue generated by the unit’s operations will go to each agency involved, he said.

Byrd said a governing board made up of himself, the four police chiefs and the solicitor will oversee the unit and will meet monthly.

“For all six of us to be able to come together at one time is significant,” Byrd said. “An important part of it is just being able to sit down and talk to each other.”

“I’d like to commend the sheriff and all the police chiefs for coming together to do this,” Solicitor Will Rogers said. “This shows how committed we are to fighting the drug problem we have in this area.”

At one time the county had a combined drug unit made up of officers from the sheriff’s office and the Hartsville and Darlington police departments. That unit was disbanded about two years ago when some of the participating agencies pulled out.