Kershaw County, South Carolina – A growing number of residents in Kershaw County are voicing deep distrust in their Sheriff’s Department, citing inconsistent policing, lack of transparency, questionable spending, and what some describe as “a culture of intimidation” within local law enforcement.
Community Concerns Growing Louder
At a recent community meeting in Camden, tensions were evident. Several residents openly questioned whether the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) is truly serving the people.
“Too often, we call for help and either no one shows up or it takes hours,” said Linda Matthews, a Lugoff resident who says her family has stopped reporting certain crimes altogether. “But if you’re five miles over the speed limit, they’re right there with lights flashing. It feels like money comes before safety.”
Others echoed her frustration, pointing to what they see as misplaced priorities. “We need protection from drugs, theft, and violence, not endless roadblocks and ticket traps,” said John Miller, a small business owner in Elgin.
Claims of Heavy-Handed Policing
Several citizens shared accounts of what they believe is overly aggressive behavior from deputies during traffic stops. One young driver, who requested anonymity, described being pulled over late at night:
“They treated me like a criminal for a broken taillight. Three deputies, flashlights in my face, questioning me like I was smuggling drugs. I felt humiliated.”
Concerns extend beyond traffic enforcement. Routine safety checks — wellness checks on vulnerable residents or follow-ups on prior complaints — are reportedly left up to individual deputies to perform or not. Citizens argue that this “discretionary enforcement” has left some families without critical support.
“If your deputy decides it’s not important, you’re out of luck,” said Angela Wright, a community organizer in Kershaw. “Public safety should not depend on a deputy’s mood.”
Lack of Community Policing
One of the strongest criticisms facing the Sheriff’s Department is its near-total absence of community policing. Residents say deputies are rarely seen walking neighborhoods, engaging with local youth, or attending town events unless it involves a high-profile arrest or public relations opportunity.
“When I was growing up, you knew the deputies by name — they’d stop, talk, and check on the neighborhood kids,” said Robert Hayes, a lifelong Camden resident. “Now, you only see them when they’re pulling somebody over. They’re not part of the community anymore.”
Community policing programs, such as school resource engagement, neighborhood watch partnerships, and foot patrols in high-crime areas, have reportedly dwindled over the past decade. Critics argue this has created a growing disconnect between law enforcement and the very residents they are supposed to protect.
“The Sheriff’s Department talks about community policing,” Wright added, “but in reality, it’s just traffic checkpoints and patrol cars zipping through town. That’s not building trust.”
Focus on Financial Intake Over Safety
Many residents accuse KCSO of focusing more on financial intake than on actual safety. Revenue from traffic tickets, DUI checkpoints, and civil asset forfeitures has become, in the eyes of critics, the department’s main priority.
“It feels like we’re nothing more than ATMs on wheels,” said Hayes. “They set up roadblocks almost every weekend, but break-ins go unsolved, and drug houses stay in business. Where’s the balance?”
Public records show that a significant portion of the department’s yearly revenue comes from fines and seized assets. While these practices are legal, critics argue they incentivize deputies to pursue profit-generating enforcement over long-term safety strategies.
“Every dollar spent chasing tickets is a dollar not spent building trust or reducing crime,” Simmons said. “It’s upside-down policing.”
Transparency and Accountability Under Fire
A central demand among critics is for more transparency in how the Sheriff’s Department operates. Citizens say that public data on complaints, arrests, and internal investigations is either not easily accessible or not provided at all.
“We have no idea how many complaints are filed against deputies or what happens when they’re accused of misconduct,” Wright added. “If there’s nothing to hide, then why keep the public in the dark?”
Questionable Spending and Promotions
Adding to the concerns are questions about how department funds are spent and how leadership positions are filled.
Some residents allege that the Sheriff’s Department has funneled resources into new vehicles, high-tech gear, and administrative perks while basic community policing remains underfunded.
“Taxpayer dollars should go toward making our neighborhoods safer, not shiny toys for show,” said Mark Simmons, a retired county employee.
Even more troubling to some is the promotion of deputies that citizens describe as “unqualified placeholders.” Critics claim certain individuals have been elevated to supervisory roles or specialized units not based on merit, training, or proven ability, but simply because the department needed “a body in the spot.”
“That’s dangerous,” Simmons warned. “When you put someone in a leadership position without the right training, it weakens the entire chain of command. And the public pays the price.”
A Troubled History
Distrust in Kershaw’s law enforcement isn’t new. In the early 2000s, the county saw controversy after allegations of racial profiling in traffic enforcement, which led to community protests but little structural change. A decade later, in 2013, internal audits questioned how seized assets were managed under the Sheriff’s Office, sparking debates over financial accountability.
More recently, in 2020, public criticism grew over the department’s handling of safety checks during the COVID-19 pandemic, when some deputies allegedly failed to conduct welfare visits on at-risk residents. The Sheriff’s Department defended its actions, citing staffing shortages, but the incident deepened perceptions of unreliability.
“These aren’t isolated issues — they’ve stacked up over years,” said Miller. “The history of mismanagement and lack of accountability is why people don’t trust them now.”
Leadership Facing Scrutiny
While Sheriff’s officials maintain that they are committed to serving the community, critics argue that leadership is failing to bridge the divide between deputies and residents. Calls for independent oversight are growing, with some residents urging county officials to consider forming a civilian review board.
“This is not about hating law enforcement,” Miller added. “It’s about accountability. We want to trust our Sheriff’s Department again, but right now, a lot of us don’t.”
The Road Ahead
As public pressure builds, Kershaw County officials face tough questions: Can trust in the Sheriff’s Department be rebuilt, or has the divide become too wide? For many residents, the answer will depend on whether real reforms — including transparency, accountability, and stronger community engagement — are implemented in the months ahead.
Until then, the faith of Kershaw County citizens in their Sheriff’s Department remains on shaky ground.
I paid to have subpoenas served by the Sheriff’s dept to witnesses and when my court date arrived, the subpoenas had never been served to my witnesses. The judge had no answer as to why they weren’t served and I was not given a refund.
Kershaw County Sheriff dept has slipped into the long standing groove that all small county Sheriff offices sink into. The history of corruption with county sheriff offices in South Carolina is a long one. Do your own investigation, just google the history, it’s all there.
Unfortunately these deputy’s don’t know the law. They go after people based on hearsay from some crazy neighbor. They follow you in unmarked cars, and then do an unfounded investigation based on no evidence.