Darlington Law Enforcement Luncheon unites First Responders, Faith Leaders, Community Partners
Law enforcement officers, first responders, spiritual leaders and local business partners from across the Pee Dee region gathered at Trinity Methodist Church on Wednesday, October 7, for the Law Enforcement Resource Luncheon, an event hosted jointly by the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and the Darlington Police Department.
The luncheon offered attendees a chance for fellowship and a candid look at the challenges and opportunities facing the community, through remarks from a panel of local leaders who shared their experiences and answered questions from the audience.
DCSO Sgt. Jacob Heatherly welcomed everyone to the gathering before Darlington County Sheriff Michael August and Darlington Police Chief Jimmy Davis opened the program with warm greetings and an explanation of the meeting’s purpose — to discuss how their departments are working with churches, businesses and other entities to bring about closer relationships and more positive interaction between law enforcement agencies and the community. Entertainer and performer Andy Locklair amused the audience with a brief comedy sketch before the keynote speech and panel discussion.
Darlington County Economic Development Director Stephanie Shaw delivered the keynote address. She described her role as that of a “connector,” helping people who face obstacles with their projects find the entities, resources and advisors needed to see them through to completion in a positive way.
Shaw also spoke about Workforce Development and the training programs offered in schools, which prepare students for careers.
Darlington Police Department Capt. Kimberly Nelson spoke about how law enforcement can build trust within the community, the obstacles that can stand in the way of positive police interaction, and the importance of making sure the public’s desires are heard. Nelson also highlighted school programs designed to introduce young people to police officers in a positive way.
Darlington County DSS Director Adrienne Wingate addressed child protection, child safety and emotional well-being. She discussed the department’s Kinship First initiative, which seeks to place children with a relative whenever possible rather than with a stranger in a foster home. She also described the DSS Pathways program.
Wingate pointed to a pressing need in the county: Darlington County currently has nearly 100 children in foster care but only 11 foster homes.
Rev. Ray Taylor, pastor of Kingdom Builders Worship Center, spoke about how local churches work together to feed, clothe, help and counsel those seeking to improve their lives. He urged attendees to look for the spirit within people rather than focusing on the physical, and said spiritual problems are best met with spiritual methods rather than worldly ones. Describing church service as “training”, Taylor urged the community to put into action, in their daily lives, those things learned in church, just as law enforcement must take their training and use the methods taught in class.
The panel also included Alston Wilkes Society Facility Director Kellie Yates who discussed the many beneficial programs of her organization. The Alston Wilkes Society is a South Carolina nonprofit organization that provides supportive, rehabilitative, and prevention services to offenders, former offenders, individuals involved in the justice system, veterans, and at-risk youth and adults.
The luncheon underscored a common theme among the speakers: that public safety, child welfare, economic opportunity and faith-based outreach are strengthened when the people who serve each of those areas know one another and work together.