During tough economic times, James R. Metts has enforced accountability at all levels of the Lexington County Sheriff's Department. His proven, professional law enforcement team has found ways to more efficiently and effectively deliver law enforcement services to citizens in Lexington County.

Crime statistics compiled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division show that the number of major crimes reported to the Lexington County Sheriff's Department decreased by 18 percent in 2003, compared with 2002.

The most significant decreases in index crimes tracked by SLED involved property crimes, which impact the largest number of citizens. In 2003, the number of larcenies reported to the Sheriff's Department decreased by 23 percent, while the number of burglaries decreased by 19 percent, compared with 2002.

SLED's statistics show that enforcement and management strategies the Sheriff's Department has implemented effectively reduced the number of crimes reported in Lexington County.

The number of crimes reported to the Sheriff's Department decreased significantly despite a 5 percent increase in the number of calls for help that the Sheriff's Department received from citizens in 2003, compared with 2002. Deputies continue to efficiently handle a steadily increasing demand for law enforcement services in a fast-growing county.

"I believe our agency is on the right track in implementing directed patrols and accountability in management, providing accurate and timely criminal intelligence to deputies and directing detectives to relentlessly follow up on leads during criminal investigations," Metts said. "By working in partnership with citizens, our agency's proven professional law enforcement team has efficiently provided services to the public during tough economic times."

Metts said accountability in management is demonstrated by the Sheriff's Department Intel Team, which meets twice a month. The Intel Team is comprised of supervisors from all divisions of the Sheriff's Department. Metts expects members of the team to be personally accountable for providing prompt, effective and accurate services that deter criminal activity and improve the quality of life for the citizens of Lexington County. The Intel Team represents Intelligence through Teamwork, Effort and Accountability in Management.

During Intel Team meetings, the Criminal Intelligence Unit provides commanders of the agency's three regional patrol districts with detailed maps that show hot spots for criminal activity and help commanders forecast future criminal activity, Metts said. Commanders can more efficiently and strategically allocate manpower and resources to reduce criminal activity.

During the meeting, supervisors discuss patterns in criminal activity to determine whether action plans that have worked in one area of the county can be applied elsewhere in the county, Metts said. It also provides an
opportunity for supervisors to address criminal activity as a group. Directed patrols and saturation enforcement patrols in areas that were identified as hot spots for criminal activity helped reduce the number of burglaries that were reported to the Sheriff's Department in 2003, Metts said.

Regional patrol commanders implemented enforcement strategies to reduce the number of property crimes reported in their assigned districts, Metts said. Resident deputies and crime prevention officers educated homeowners and merchants about how they could reduce opportunities for criminals to break into homes and businesses.

Resident deputies and crime prevention officers also worked closely with the 59 Neighborhood Crime Watch organizations that work in partnership with the Sheriff's Department to report criminal activity to law enforcement, Metts said. The groups promote crime prevention, improve the quality of life in residential neighborhoods and raise public awareness about criminal activity in communities across Lexington County.

Shift supervisors conducted roll call meetings for road patrol deputies at locations that were hot spots for criminal activity. Traffic Division deputies conducted saturation enforcement patrols in crime hot spots,
increasing the law enforcement presence in targeted areas. Directed patrols by deputies who work as school resource officers helped curb larcenies at middle schools and high schools in the county in 2003, Metts said.

The Lexington County Armed Robbery Detail conducted directed patrols during the Christmas holiday shopping season that reduced the number of robberies reported to the Sheriff's Department by 58 percent in November and December 2003, compared with the same time period in 2002, Metts said. Deputies and municipal law enforcement officers serve on the detail.

In 2003, Metts regularly assessed community concerns and public safety issues with resident deputies and received input from citizens while visiting them at their homes, businesses and churches in communities across the county.

Metts conducted monthly "Straight Talk With The Sheriff" forums to provide working people with personal access to Lexington County's chief law enforcement officer. During the meetings, Metts provided citizens with information about criminal activity in their community.

The Lexington County Multi-Agency Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) aggressively cracked down on drug activity across the county, Metts said. In 2003, NET officers shut down 70 clandestine methamphetamine laboratories in the county. NET is comprised of officers from the Sheriff's Department and municipal law enforcement agencies.

Since NET began operation under a federal grant in July 2002, officers have initiated 2,634 drug investigations that resulted in 510 drug trafficking charges, 427 drug distribution charges, 489 charges of possessing drugs with the intent to distribute them and 602 additional drug offenses, Metts said. Officers have conducted 235 seizures of vehicles, cash, real property and weapons that have a combined value of more than $400,000.

NET officers also initiated a drug interdiction program at hotels and motels. This has reduced drug dealing and other associated crimes, such as prostitution. Officers educated hotel and motel employees about drug offenses and developed a network of sources who report suspicious activity and drug dealing to law enforcement.

Lexington County Council designated Metts to be the county's homeland security chief. The sheriff will coordinate a unified public safety response in the event of a natural disaster, critical incident or terrorist attack. Metts supervised consolidation of communications operations for law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel.

Metts received recognition in February for work done by reserve sheriff's deputies, who volunteer their time while performing the same work as full-time, paid deputies. In 2002, reserve deputies worked 6,401 hours, saving taxpayers $114,449.

In March, Metts created an Alcohol Enforcement Hotline to make it easier for citizens to report underage drinking and illegal sales of alcohol to children.

Metts worked with Immigrant Community Access Point to obtain Spanish translation services in March so that deputies can communicate with Hispanic residents who do not speak English. The Sheriff's Department was the first law enforcement agency in the state to obtain Spanish translation services at no cost to taxpayers.

In January, Metts was presented with a University of South Carolina study that shows the Lexington County Criminal Domestic Violence Court serves as a national model for curbing domestic violence. Metts led the effort to create the court, which is the first court in South Carolina to be dedicated to handle criminal domestic violence cases.

In March, Metts was the first South Carolina sheriff to graduate from the South Carolina Executive Institute, a prestigious, eight-month executive management program. The Executive Institute provides instruction about how to implement quality management and customer service initiatives in government agencies. In March, 500 people attended a community celebration dinner to commemorate Metts' 30th year in office as sheriff. The event's proceeds benefited local charities.