Berkeley County, S.C. — The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) has reached an important milestone, announcing this week that it is now fully staffed for the first time since 2021. This achievement marks a significant step forward for the department, which has faced staffing challenges in recent years.
Full Staffing and Growing Waitlist
In addition to being fully staffed, the BCSO currently has nearly two dozen candidates on a waitlist for future openings. This success in recruiting and retaining law enforcement officers is part of a larger trend in local law enforcement agencies, as neighboring counties also report improvements in staffing levels.
Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis thanked the county council for approving pay raises, which he said played a key role in helping the department reach this staffing milestone. These raises are part of the effort to make law enforcement positions more attractive to prospective candidates.
Staffing Progress in Dorchester and Charleston Counties
Both the Charleston County and Dorchester County Sheriff’s Offices have also seen success in recruitment efforts.
For Dorchester County, Lt. Michael McKee, a recruiter with the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office, shared that the county is aiming to be fully staffed by November. As of now, there are 18 vacancies in the detention center, and 17 vacancies in law enforcement positions. There are currently 22 candidates in the application process for law enforcement roles and 32 candidates for detention positions.
Charleston County is also making strides, with the patrol side expected to be fully staffed next month. However, the department still has several open positions at the detention center. Lexi Douglas, the public information officer for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, explained that working at the detention center is a valuable experience for younger candidates who eventually want to be on patrol. “It’s great to know that process behind all that,” Douglas said, referring to the journey of an arrested individual from the Sheriff Al Canon Detention Center to being released.
Recruitment Challenges
Despite these successes, Charleston County still has around 80 open positions at the Sheriff Al Canon Detention Center, which is a significant challenge for the department. However, with the momentum built from recent recruitment efforts and the growing applicant pool, law enforcement agencies in the area are optimistic about continuing to fill these vital positions.
