Lamar welcomes new police chief

By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net

Lamar’s Town Council chamber rang with applause on June 10 as Carl Scott was introduced as the new chief of police. The town has been without a chief – and without local officers – for several months, but the hiring of Scott brings a close to that chapter.

Scott, 43, is a native of Lake City and a career law enforcement officer who served 15 years with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office and has worked for the past six years with the Kingstree Police Department.

Scott said he has also subcontracted with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, and has contacts and good relationships with several agencies, which he hopes to utilize to Lamar’s benefit. He revealed that he is already revamping the application process and screening candidates to fill openings for police officers with the goal of finding officers who will “fit the Town of Lamar.”

Scott voiced an open-door policy and encouraged any members of the public to come visit him when they have concerns or just want to talk. He said he plans to publish his e-mail address in the next town newsletter (included with monthly water bills) for those unable to visit in person. Scott added that he wants the community to buy in and help the department fulfill its main mission: public safety.

“We’re going to try and do everything we can to make this community safer, but we can’t do it by ourselves,” said Scott. “Everything that we do, it takes the community helping us out in order to make it happen.”

Mayor Darnell Byrd McPherson offered a formal welcome from the town and noted that Scott’s selection was the product of careful consideration by a hiring committee, headed by Mayor Pro Tem Lang Howell and staffed with local citizens. She noted that this group carefully vetted all candidates and chose Scott based on his strong history of community-oriented law enforcement and sterling references.

Anyone interested in applying to the Lamar Police Department can call 843-639-2755 for more information.

Author: Stephan Drew

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