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James R. Metts has established a reputation as an innovative law
enforcement administrator and leader in the field of criminal justice,
both
in South Carolina and the nation. He teaches classes for law enforcement
professionals as well as criminal justice students at the collegiate
level.
GOVERNOR AWARDS ORDER OF SILVER CRESCENT
TO SHERIFF AND ASSISTANT SHERIFF
Gov. Mark Sanford awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent to Lexington
County Sheriff James R. Metts for his exemplary contributions to the
Palmetto State and his dedication to serving the citizens of Lexington
County.
The Order of the Silver Crescent is the highest civilian honor awarded
in South Carolina for community service. The governor bestows the award
for “exemplary performance, contribution and achievement within the
community.”
On behalf of Governor Sanford, members of the Lexington County
Legislative Delegation presented the Order of the Silver Crescent to
Metts during a presentation ceremony that was held on October 29, 2004.
Governor Sanford wrote the honors bestowed on the Sheriff’s Department
in 2004 reflect Metts’ longstanding dedication to public service and the
commitment to excellence of the proven, professional law enforcement
team at the Sheriff’s Department.
2004 SANTEE COOPER EXCELLENCE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD
The South
Carolina Law Enforcement Officers' Association presented the award to
the Sheriff's Department, honoring the agency as South Carolina's
premier law enforcement agency. The award recognized the Sheriff's
Department for its efforts to build partnerships between law enforcement
and citizens that helped reduce major crimes in Lexington County by 18
percent in 2003. Major crimes in Lexington County decreased
significantly in spite of a 6 percent increase in the number of calls
for help that the Sheriff's Department received from citizens in 2003.
2004 J. MITCHELL GRAHAM MEMORIAL AWARD
The South Carolina Association of Counties presented the award to
Lexington County, recognizing the Lexington County Homeland Security
Coordinating Council as a model homeland security program. It was the
first time in 30 years that Lexington County won the prestigious award.
The Sheriff's Department implemented the Homeland Security Coordinating
Council. Public safety agencies in the county now operate under a
unified chain of command, which will enable law enforcement, fire and
EMS personnel to respond efficiently as a team to a terrorist attack or
critical incident in the county. Law enforcement, fire and EMS personnel
conduct multi-disciplinary training, share equipment and resources and
communicate daily about public safety issues and concerns.
ORDER OF THE PALMETTO
PATRIOT
Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer presented the Order of the Palmetto Patriot _ the
highest civilian honor that the lieutenant governor of South Carolina
can bestow _ to Lexington County Sheriff James R. Metts on May 17, 2006
in Bauer’s office at the State House.
Bauer personally presented the award to honor the sheriff for his 33
years of service as Lexington County’s chief law enforcement officer and
homeland security director. The lieutenant governor also recognized
Metts for his efforts to enhance enforcement of family court orders that
require deadbeat parents to make child support payments in Lexington
County.
“Sheriff Metts has changed with the times and led a progressive law
enforcement agency,” Bauer said. “Many law enforcement administrators
have tried to emulate what Sheriff Metts has done in Lexington County.”
In January 2006, Metts created a Fugitive Unit at the Lexington County
Sheriff’s Department in order to enhance efforts to arrest deadbeat
parents who are wanted on family court bench warrants and arrest
criminals who are wanted on serious criminal charges.
In 2006, sheriff’s fugitive investigators arrested more than 78 deadbeat
parents, Metts said. Lexington County Clerk of Court Beth Carrigg said
those parents owed a total of $1.5 million in unpaid, court-ordered
child support payments in Lexington County.
Metts has received the highest civilian honors that can be bestowed by
the governor of South Carolina and the lieutenant governor of South
Carolina. In 1998, Gov. David Beasley awarded Metts the Order of the
Palmetto _ the highest civilian honor that a governor can bestow. In
2004, Gov. Mark Sanford awarded Metts the Order of the Silver Crescent _
the highest civilian honor awarded in South Carolina for community
service.
“I accept this award on behalf of the men and women of the Lexington
County Sheriff’s Department and the citizens of Lexington County. They
have been instrumental in helping me be recognized today by Lt. Gov.
Andre Bauer,” Metts said. “We will continue to move forward in bringing
progressive law enforcement services to the citizens of Lexington
County.”
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