Dr. James R. Metts, Sheriff Lexington County South Carolina

Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts on Thursday, March 27 hosted a building dedication ceremony for the South Region Service Center at the Lexington County Airport at Pelion, 100 Airport Road, Pelion. About 90 people attended the event.

The South Region Service Center houses offices for Lexington County Sheriff’s Department deputies who are assigned to the South Region patrol district and Lexington County Emergency Medical Services personnel, Metts said.

The facility was financed primarily with federal money from the Community Development Block Grant program. The center serves as a substation for road patrol deputies and regional detectives who are assigned to provide law enforcement services in southern Lexington County.

“It is a fabulous day to be in the Pelion community,” Metts told people who attended the dedication ceremony. “This facility would not exist without the Community Development Block Grant program. We appreciate the fact that the community came together with Lexington County Council to make this facility possible.”

County Councilman James E. “Jim” Kinard, Jr., whose district includes the Pelion community, said construction of the South Region Service Center reflects County Council’s mission statement of providing quality services to citizens at a reasonable cost.

“We need to work together to manage growth in this area,” Kinard said. “I have the utmost faith in the men and women who work at this facility.”

County Councilman Johnny W. Jeffcoat praised Metts for implementing regional patrol operations at the Sheriff’s Department, which enhanced deputies’ ability to efficiently respond to calls for help from citizens who require law enforcement services.

“We are here in this building because we need to make citizens safe,” Jeffcoat said. “Sheriff Metts had the vision to make this facility happen. We have consolidated public safety services into one building.”
Pelion Mayor Charles Haggard said the opening of the South Region Service Center reflects the need to provide additional services for a growing population in southern Lexington County. The mayor said Pelion and surrounding communities no longer are the quiet, forgotten communities that they were four decades ago.

“Sheriff Metts had the vision to plan for handling growth in this area,” Haggard said. “We feel that law enforcement in this area will be greatly improved and more visible. This facility will really be a boon to our community.”

County Council approved building the facility in order to enhance law enforcement services in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods in unincorporated areas in Lexington County, Metts said. Deputies who are based at the South Region Service Center primarily are responsible for providing law enforcement services within a four-mile radius of the center.

“The dedication of this facility is a great occasion for southern Lexington County,” said Lexington County Assistant Sheriff for Public Safety Bruce E. Rucker. “It allows us to respond more efficiently and more effectively to calls for service in this area. We want the best quality of life for citizens in this community.”
Money that Lexington County annually receives from the federal Community Development Block Grant program has enhanced public services countywide, said County Council Chairman William C. “Billy” Derrick.

The projects that have been financed through the Community Development Block Grant program include the Sharpes Hill Fire Station on S.C. 6 near Gaston and installation of public water lines along Old Barnwell Road in the Red Bank community, Princeton Road in the South Congaree community and Double Branch Road in the West Columbia community, Derrick said. Money from the program also financed the installation of fire hydrants and public water lines and road paving on Happy Town Road near Swansea and improvements in public sewage services that are provided in the Lloydwood subdivision near Cayce.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, April 9 hosted a ceremony to officially name the Lexington County James R. Metts Law Enforcement Complex at 521 Gibson Road in Lexington. About 200 people attended the event.

Lexington County Council renamed the Law Enforcement Complex in Metts’ honor in recognition of his 35 years of dedicated service as the leader of the proven, professional law enforcement team at the Sheriff’s Department.

“On behalf of County Council, I can say that we feel very strongly about the renaming of this facility for a man who had the vision to make this facility possible,” County Councilman Johnny W. Jeffcoat said. “Our safety is in good han Sheriff Metts, Wife and Daughter

ds with Sheriff Metts and his professional staff. They handle themselves in a way that we all can be proud of.”

The renaming of the Law Enforcement Complex in Metts’ honor reflects the strong partnerships that Metts has worked to build with County Council and citizens in Lexington County, Jeffcoat said.
“We all have respect for Sheriff Metts,” Jeffcoat said. “He has been very successful in his career and dedicated himself to protecting and serving the citizens of Lexington County.”

Pastor Rusty Sullivan of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Lexington said the renaming of the Law Enforcement Complex reflects Metts’ reputation as an effective law enforcement administrator. Metts and his wife, Carol, are members of Pilgrim Lutheran Church. Metts has taught Sunday school at the church and served several terms on the Church Council, including stints as chairman, secretary and treasurer.

“I have the privilege of watching Jimmy grow in his faith and service to God,” Sullivan said. “We joyfully gather here to dedicate this facility and honor a man who is a great leader.”

Col. Mel Seboe, whom Metts hired to work at the Sheriff’s Department shortly after Metts was first elected sheriff in 1972, said Metts implemented structure, organization and vision that transformed the Sheriff’s Department from an agency with 19 employees to a nationally accredited agency with 375 full-time employees. Metts implemented many innovative programs.

“Sheriff Metts has a vision that is ongoing,” Seboe said. “His fame reaches far and wide.”
Laura Hudson, who is executive director of the South Carolina Crime Victims’ Council, said Metts was the first sheriff in South Carolina to hire victims’ assistance officers. Hudson said that under Metts’ leadership deputies have worked closely with crime victims.

Hudson also praised Metts for being the first sheriff in South Carolina to assign a team of deputies to conduct enhanced traffic enforcement patrols to stop motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 1992, the National Safety Council presented Metts with “The J. Stannard Baker Traffic Safety Award” _ the nation’s highest honor for contributions to highway safety.

Nancy Barton, who is executive director of Sistercare, Inc., said Metts led efforts in South Carolina to enhance enforcement concerning criminal domestic violence. Barton said the sheriff has implemented a zero tolerance policy in Lexington County for domestic violence.

Metts led the effort to create the Lexington County Criminal Domestic Violence Court, the first court in South Carolina to be dedicated to handling criminal domestic violence cases. The court includes an intensive treatment program for abusers and their families. Metts hired two detectives to investigate domestic violence cases as well as a lawyer to prosecute such cases in court.

A study that the University of South Carolina completed in January 2003 shows the Lexington County Criminal Domestic Violence Court serves as a national model for curbing domestic violence. The U.S. Department of Justice financed the study.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Foundation accepted monetary donations from individuals and businesses to buy signs to rename the Law Enforcement Complex in honor of Metts, who is a past president of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association. At Metts’ request, the renaming of the complex was done at no cost to taxpayers.

Twenty-one businesses and individuals made donations of $1,000 or more to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Foundation for the James R. Metts Signage Project: Anderson Management, Inc. LLC, BankAir, Bauknight, Pietras & Stormer, Richard J. Breibart, Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Columbia Farms, Kevin Connelly, Elante Day Spa, Gregory Electric, Executive Construction, Lexington Medical Center, Ted O. McGee, North Lake Construction, Palmetto Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc., Pitt Stop, RJRR ENT Inc., John R. Roof, Randall Sturkie, South Capital Group, Watford Tile and Tony Williams.

A committee that is comprised of David Byrd, Neal Dolan, Danny Frazier, Tim James, Chip Johnson, Ted O. McGee, Alisa Mosley, Pattie Rabon, Mark Shelley, Dennis Tyndall and Butch Wallace led efforts to obtain donations for the James R. Metts Signage Project.

“For nearly four decades, Sheriff Metts has served as Lexington County’s chief law enforcement officer. As a result of the sheriff’s vision, passion and dedication, the Sheriff’s Department is recognized nationally as a premier law enforcement agency,” the committee stated. “This vision has enabled Lexington County to be the first community in the nation to implement many progressive programs, many of which other agencies later implemented.”

Golfers on 35, four-member teams will tee off at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 14 for the fifth annual Sheriff James R. Metts Golf Tournament at the Country Club of Lexington, 1066 Barr Road, Lexington. More than 100 businesses and individuals have purchased sponsorship signs for golf holes at the tournament. Sheriff Metts
Tournament proceeds benefit the James R. Metts Endowed Scholarship at Charleston Southern University. Metts established the scholarship more than 10 years ago and endowed six full scholarships to finance educations of criminal justice majors.

In awarding the scholarships, Charleston Southern gives preference to students from Lexington County.

As a result of the generosity of golfers and business owners, the first four tournaments in 2004-2007 raised enough money to fund the six scholarships that Metts endowed.

“Our goal for the 2008 tournament is to raise enough money to finance at least one additional scholarship,” Metts said. “I am honored that businesses and golfers have so generously donated money to help us invest in the futures of worthy young people in Lexington County.”

More than 3,000 students attend Charleston Southern, a four-year liberal arts school that is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. CSU awards associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in more than 32 academic fields and master’s degrees in three fields.

Checks for donations should be made payable to: The James R. Metts Endowed Scholarship Fund and mailed to P.O. Box 594, Lexington, S.C. 29071, Metts said. Fees and sponsorships for the golf tournament as well as donations for the scholarship are tax-deductible.

The four teams with the best scores will receive gift certificates from the Pro Shop at the Country Club of Lexington, Metts said. The first-place prize is a $400 gift certificate, with a $300 gift certificate for second place, $200 gift certificate for third place and $100 gift certificate for fourth place.

There also will be “Hole in One” contests sponsored by Mike Addy Chrysler-Jeep, Forest Lake Travel and South Lake Marine & Powersports Inc., Metts said.