Charleston County Sheriff Carl Ritchie has prioritized staffing improvements, increased deputy visibility, and jail reforms in his first year in office. These efforts address challenges across the department’s 1,300-square-mile jurisdiction serving diverse urban, suburban, and rural communities.
Staffing Achievements
Ritchie’s focus on hiring enabled full patrol staffing multiple times, boosting presence in unincorporated areas where residents previously saw limited law enforcement. This progress supported expanded specialized units, including traffic enforcement and school resource officers, ensuring every responsible school now has a dedicated SRO.
Jail Challenges
The Charleston County Detention Center remains a key issue due to chronic understaffing affecting its 1,300 daily inmates, though operational changes like realignments, added safety tools such as Narcan and AEDs, and successful inspections have improved conditions. Jail director Stan Davis emphasized safety enhancements to equip deputies better.
Community Engagement
Ritchie built ties with municipal leaders by meeting mayors early to understand local needs, fostering collaboration amid population growth. Heading into year two, he plans continued emphasis on staffing and capacity to enhance overall operations.
