LOCAL SHERIFF UNDER FIRE …
Another day, another South Carolina sheriff, another scandal …
This time our story comes from the Palmetto State’s Lowcountry – specifically Dorchester County, S.C. sheriff L.C. Knight.
According to our sources, Knight has been fixing tickets for several of his friends – as well as friends of his family members. One source showed us over a dozen tickets allegedly dismissed at Knight’s request – including an open container citation that the officer involved in the stop indicated could have easily resulted in an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI).
The open container citation provided to us contained the following note …
Req. dismiss by Sheriff. Friend of wife. Could have been DUI. Cold beer in trunk. Per Sheriff – Dismissed
Gotta love South Carolina, right? Everything is always about “who you know.”
Look, we’re not going to get bent out of shape about local sheriffs fixing tickets. Sure, it’s corrupt as hell – but our guess is that sort of thing happens everywhere in South Carolina.
However, letting someone go who has allegedly been drinking and driving? That’s a big deal …
Scandals involving sheriffs are sadly commonplace in the Palmetto State. In fact four years ago we wrote a column detailing this lawlessness entitled “What Is It With S.C. Sheriffs?”
Seems things have only gotten worse since then …
Longtime Lexington, S.C. sheriff James Metts was busted last year harboring illegal aliens – and did a year in federal prison for his crimes. Williamsburg County sheriff Michael L. Johnson was also busted last year for providing fake police reports to a Columbia, S.C. “credit repairman.”
In December 2014, Berekley County’s Wayne DeWitt was arrested for driving under the influence and fleeing the scene of a car crash near Goose Creek, S.C.
All of those sheriffs lost their jobs.
This year has seen no let-down in sheriff-related scandals …
Two sheriffs – one in Laurens County and another in Union County – are under the gun for “sexting” women who are not their wives. Meanwhile Florence County sheriff Kenney Boone is in hot water over a staged arrest photo involving black suspects. Over in Chesterfield County, a former interim sheriff is facing a lawsuit alleging he destroyed evidence related to the molestation of young boys by a former solicitor.
This latest rash of scandals is disappointing. South Carolina sheriffs ought to know at this point that their behavior is under a microscope – and behave accordingly.
Obviously the allegations against Knight rank low on the totem pole of potential misconduct … but even a scandal as comparatively minor as ticket-fixing is a violation of the public trust. And every time the public trust is violated, it erodes further.