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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.
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