Knight making changes
New Dorchester County sheriff gets rid of Bible-based training program, some deputies
SUMMERVILLE — Dorchester County Sheriff L.C. Knight has hit the ground running his first week in office, working to live up to his promise to revamp a department rocked with allegations of embezzlement and constant budget battles with council.
Alan Hawes
The Post and Courier
Dorchester County Sheriff L.C. Knight began adopting new policies immediately after taking office on Tuesday.
He succeeded Ray Nash, a three-term sheriff who declined to run again after an audit showed almost $360,000 missing from a jail fund overseen by his former jail chief. Nash was not implicated but said he was wrong to put too much trust in one person.
Knight said the incident showed that Nash's Bible-based character-training program, which was mandatory for all employees, was a waste. Killing the program was one of Knight's first official acts.
"I put an end to that yesterday," Knight said Wednesday, his second day in office. "And I also advised them that anyone who didn't have character probably wouldn't work for me."
Knight told everybody they would have to reapply for their jobs to stay on board. He fired about 10 deputies, and another half-dozen declined to stick around.
"That's not a large total when you're talking about 235 people," said Knight, a former supervisor for the State Law Enforcement Division. "We didn't have any intention to come in and make mass changes."
Previous story
Sheriff's office workers told to reapply for jobs, published 11/08/08
Knight sits in his office wearing a blue dress shirt, slacks and tie. You won't see him in the military-style cargo pants Nash liked to wear, he said.
You won't see deputies in those pants anymore either. From now on, everybody wears gray dress slacks and gray shirt.
"We're going to have one uniform for everybody," he said.
He's also started his crusade to slash expenses. He put the department's airplane up for sale. Nash bought the 1994 Maule MX7, a four-seater, in 2005 with $60,000 in confiscated drug money. He bought it to help with surveillance and drug-bust operations.
Alan Hawes
The Post and Courier
Dorchester County Deputy Joel Crisp rides in the elevator with his new boss, Sheriff L.C. Knight, on Knight's second day as the county's top lawman.
Knight is also taking a close look at a boat the department owns. He's also considering disbanding a diving team and using Department of Natural Resources divers instead.
"It's got to be a money saver for us," he said.
Dorchester County Council Chairman Jamie Feltner is counting on it. He said he met with Knight Tuesday and is pleased with some of his plans.
"I'm hoping that all the (county) departments might be more efficient this year," Feltner said. "I had a very good conversation with him. I expect a lot less politics, and let's just get the job done."
If Knight is living in anybody's shadow, it's his father's. Carl Knight was sheriff from 1960 to 1989. The law-enforcement center is named after him. A bronze plaque with his face on it hangs in the lobby.
"Naturally, as a young man, I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps," Knight said. "I'm mighty proud to serve the people of Dorchester County. It feels good to follow in dad's footsteps, it really does."
The judicial center next door is named for Troy Knight, L.C. Knight's son. He was a magistrate and Summerville town attorney who died in 2004 at age 38.
Nash will work as an investigator for 1st Circuit Solicitor David Pascoe, Assistant Solicitor Blair Jennings said Wednesday.
The solicitor's office is losing two investigators to Knight, and Nash will help make up that loss, he said. Pascoe saw an opportunity to pick up someone with 25 years of law enforcement experience "and took advantage of it," Jennings said.
Nash will start in a couple weeks, Jennings said. Salary information was not immediately available.
Schuyler Kropf contributed to this story. Reach Dave Munday at 937-5553 or dmunday@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
This article has 33 comment(s)
Posted by mac0cm4 on January 8, 2009 at 2:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad to see Sheriff Knight is off to a good start!
Posted by ForPnC on January 8, 2009 at 4 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't vote for Knight but he sure is off to an impressive start. Keep it up and good luck!
Posted by BobH1962 on January 8, 2009 at 4:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
BRAVO Sheriff Knight. That is exactly what is needed in today's economy. Someone who will focus on improvement, cost cutting and not just "business as usual". Those who left or were not rehired probably didn't belong there anyway.
Posted by jammer on January 8, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
welcome aboard in DC Sheriff!
I'm glad to see you get rid of those militaristic uniforms
I'm sure that will help relationships with the public grow, that militarization of our police/sheriff forces has done nothing but put a wedge inbetween the authorities and the public IMHO... dressing out of that era confirms you are for the people, not the govt
thank you sir...
Posted by majorjohnson on January 8, 2009 at 6:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Maybe they can focus on the job instead of bible school now.
Posted by tabithaspell on January 8, 2009 at 7:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kudos Sheriff Knight...looking forward to the change for the postive...God know's, the county needs it! I think it's going to be great especially with a team behind you like you have including adding in Sam from the Solicitor's office, strong, determined, and very courtious to the needs of the citizens. Hopefully it will wear off of those that you kept that need a strong attitude change, including the one that you are pictured with above. Kudos, again and look forward to your help cleaning up the county, including your assistance, with the preservation of "the Ridge" or the reservation in Ridgeville, and other areas that are falling apart to drugs, & violence, for our youths sake.
Posted by dont_blame_me on January 8, 2009 at 7:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
what a start.... he has hired someone to be a duty officer to talk to the citizens when they come to complain about something. this is a very good idea and very useful, only problem is the person hired only listens to the story of the citizen and if a report needs to be written a patrol deputy is called off the road to come listen to the same story again so the report can be written. where is the money saving in that plan??? so far all the grandmaster has done is tell people "you will respect me" as it was quoted in one of his earlier articles he has. what a start.
Posted by uknowit2betrue on January 8, 2009 at 7:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This article is so sugary sweet my teeth hurt. My question is he going to replace those 16 deputies? We need more deputies on the road not less.
Posted by jimjones on January 8, 2009 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As someone in the LE field I can tell you he will have NO problem filling 16 slots.
Posted by notafan on January 8, 2009 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course he is going to let people go. How else will there be room for friends and relatives???
Posted by bkc6 on January 8, 2009 at 8:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congradutations Sheriff LC Knight. Glad to see the changes you are making and if there is anything we can do for you just call us. To all the negative comments - we know who you voted for. Just give Mr. Knight a chance and you will see you were wrong and He is the right choose for Dorchester County sheriff
Posted by bkc6 on January 8, 2009 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before anyone starts picking on my spelling. I only had 1 cup of coffee. I ment to say choice not choose.
Posted by hotchick on January 8, 2009 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No bkc6 - just because a person says something negative doesn't mean that you just assume that the person voted for someone else. Geez, in the final election, I don't think there WAS anyone else, was there? Anyway, I voted for LC, like LC, have known of him since I was a baby. All that said, the Munday article above IS very sugary sweet and subjective. Nash had many reasons not to run again, and I don't think he ever listed "I put too much trust in one person" as the primary reason for leaving. Why can't reporters report objectively? It gets to the point where even when there is really good news, you question the information because the reporter has a history of writing a slanted story. It is the same with Andy Paras with his Berkeley County stuff. He can't stand Davis, so every article includes information slanted on the negative. Where did you guys go to school anyway?
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on January 8, 2009 at 9:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jimjones- He may have trouble because Dorchester County doesnt pay crap. I have a friend moving here who is a LEO. He said the pay was way less than North Charleston and most other counties for that matter. Maybe when they sell that plane they can afford to pay their officers a decent wage and become more competitive.
Posted by nappyd on January 8, 2009 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm guessing the crime is way less than North Charleston also.
Either that or way underreported.
Most of these changes sound good, and hopefully are good. At least the costs associated with buying new uniforms is relatively minor compared to a lot of the other equipment, etc. that it could be spent on.
Posted by dont_blame_me on January 8, 2009 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
the pay is not going to change no matter what he sells because our good old boy county councilmen said the sheriff's office gets paid enough, that way there is plenty money left to give themselves a nice raise.
Posted by oldglory on January 8, 2009 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Sugary or not, it is refreshing to hear someone making logical, very sensible choices within his purview. I am not a resident of Dorchester, but this man sounds as though he has more than just a clue as to this operation, don't you think? I really admire that he dumped the boat, airplane and bible-based training program. To me that's a good start in showing people that his department means to carry out its proper duties.
Posted by coolfreaknbeans on January 8, 2009 at 9:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Of course crime in N.Chuck is probably a lot higher. Who cares? When your a good LEO you want to make a difference and stay busy. Not to mention N. Chuck had a $5,000 sign on bonus.(at least recently) If I'm not mistaken I believe in Dorchester County they were paying cops the same wage as dispatch. What sense does that make?
Posted by TarNFeatherEm on January 8, 2009 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If Mr Knight is so worried about saving money for Dorchester County why is he changing the paint/colors on all of the cruisers? How is that saving money for the taxpayers?
Posted by Missing_Home on January 8, 2009 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't vote for anyone (outta town), but he looks to be off to a good start, DCSD is a civilian police agency, it should be run as such.
Posted by smenzel on January 8, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a shame, first to make accusations that the character program was a bible class and second to remove it. All that can be said is watch and wait. Keep track of department morale, citizen complaints, and the overall community crime rate. I am just glad that these were all measured before the new Sheriff started. Everyone should be interested to measure these in one year or even 6 months. Each category will be worse off. I sure hope I am wrong but I don't believe I am.
Posted by notafan on January 8, 2009 at 2:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)
smenzel- good point. It really doesn't matter though. No matter how bad things get the good ol boy network will put all the blame on Nash. They didn't like the guy from day one and t upsets them even more that Nash took a job at the solicitor's office.
The next thing you know their little network will begin their campaign to take Pascoe down and put one of thier own (Lafond) in his place. Good ol boy network in full effect.
All that being said I hope Knight's top priority is making the county safe for the citizens of Dorchester County and not securing jobs and favors for his friends and relatives.
Posted by jimjones on January 8, 2009 at 2:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Johnny, Johnny, I hope you are not speaking of me? As for who I am, don't worry about it. Nash will only be missed by those he was greasing. If you think he didn't have thing one to do with the missing $300,000 then you are drunk on the kool-aid. Mr. Holmes if your only insult is to make homosexual jokes and make fun of the President-elect then I feel sorry for your wife and kids. i do work for a local PD and love every minute of it.
Posted by theronce on January 8, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Time will tell for some of us. His network will always support him. The other network will always oppose him. An outsider was elected one time, and both networks opposed him. It was not a happy time.
Posted by dont_blame_me on January 8, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the moral is already dead!!!!! if you think he is waisting money on the cars (because it is right) you check out the jobs he made for his friends that have no function for the community.
"YOU WILL RESPECT ME" says the nasty little man.
i was always taught respect was earned not a demand.
hey,TarNFeatherEm you left out changing the badge, uniforms and duty gear.
Posted by ForPnC on January 8, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Next order of business - Get Nash's ugly mug off the web pages!
Posted by realityck on January 8, 2009 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
How sad for Dorchester County to have the poster child for the good ole boy network as the new sheriff...it's back to the future!
Posted by outrage on January 8, 2009 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The cargo pants are much more funcional and less expensive than the dress grays Charleston County deputies wear. The greys may be more professional looking to some, but cost effective they are not.
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jimjones -"As someone in the LE field I can tell you he will have NO problem filling 16 slots".
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What agency do you work for where it is easy to fill sixteen positions?
Posted by creeker on January 8, 2009 at 6:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Give the guy a break, remember Rome was not built in a day. He has many things to do to ensure, that the former administration left him with adaquate means to police his county. First and foremost will be an inventory of all equipment, just to see what he has to work with.
Sheriff Knight needs at least 3 to 4 months to get a handle on his dept, and until then the changes will come fast and furious...Thank God
I believe the team he put together is commited to serving the people of Dorchester County, I have many friends there and for the most part they are happy with what is going on.
That being said, Good luck to Sheriff Knight, he seems like a genuine person.
Posted by SCPDBLUE on January 8, 2009 at 8:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WELL WHERE DO I START,notafan,dont_blame_me,TarNFeatherEm,realityck,outrage You guys said it all.Dorchester County is going back in time, This is your new Sheriff check him out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8IqSIw1P...
Posted by dont_blame_me on January 9, 2009 at 6:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Can you believe it’s already been only a week since the black cloud has settled over the county? So far he has made good on hiring half of his campaign promises to the high roller donations by giving them jobs with no function at the county expense. He has managed to take a department of people that cared about each other and killed all moral by having people not know who his little crony spies are and will go running and tell the first time they here someone not respecting him just so they can get ahead.
Just a thought……. Why do the tax payers have to pay for things to be changed that are not broken just because he doesn’t like it ?
Soon you will see what a bad mistake that has been made.
Posted by SCPDBLUE on January 11, 2009 at 2:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
dont_blame_me, I say the same thing. Also there is no need to change the partol cars colors,uniforms,badges,or anything that the tax payers of Dorchester County have already paid for,if its not broke dont spend my money and other tax payers money to try and fix it.. What the tax paying people of Dorchester county want are more deputies on the streets. Selling the airplane is a good idea,getting rid of the dive team, I dont know,they would cut down on response time to a water incident.Having spys, all depts has them,The real partol officers know them,they have ways of taking care of them,TRUST me. Lets face it BOSS HOG 2 is on the job,the fruit does not fall from the tree. Remember folks if you want to see your new Sheriff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8IqSIw1P......
Posted by dont_blame_me on January 12, 2009 at 6:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What do you expect from someone that took their oath of office in a bar.