MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (June 24, 2022) – Community members, along with local and state leaders – especially SC Lt. Governor Pamela Evette – gathered June 23, 2022 to celebrate the official grand opening of the new Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office substation in Sangaree. It’s the sixth facility of its kind across Berkeley County.

Substations better serve our citizens. They are an essential office for deputies – allowing them to quickly complete reports/paperwork without having to travel back and forth to BCSO Headquarters in Moncks Corner. Also, their convenient locations promote the reduction of call response times, provide visibility in their communities, assist with community outreach, and overall help deter crime.

“To the community…Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting us and being here when we need you; and we do need you, more than ever. I want to thank my good friend, the Lt. Governor… You really support law enforcement, and we need all the support we can get. This building here – it may not look like much, but it’s ours and we appreciate it; and we’re going to put it to good use. …You’ll see deputies more often in your community.” -Sheriff Duane Lewis

“There’s a mission statement posted on the substation wall that says, ‘Taking care of people.’ I don’t think you’ll find another Sheriff or a Sheriff’s department anywhere in our state that takes care of and works with people better. These substations are a phenomenal resource and way to connect with the community. On behalf of County Council, we’d like to thank Sheriff Lewis for his vision and commitment and County staff for their work to get the facility ready to receive our deputies, volunteers, and members of the public that we will serve.” -County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

“The Governor and I have been talking now for four years about communication, collaboration, and cooperation; and that’s exactly what it sounds like is happening here today and that’s what makes South Carolina so special. …I hear it from our law enforcement all over – when you have a good community presence, when people know where you are, when they know where your heart is, and they can trust you, it just makes a community better and stronger. …Thank you so much to the men and women who stand on that thin blue line to keep us safe every day. We can’t repay you or thank you enough.” -Lt. Governor Pamela Evette

“This has been a long time coming. It’s going to help this community and surrounding communities be a part of the Sheriff’s Office in gathering information and taking care of problems. Seeing deputies parked here gives the community a sense of security. …Thank you, Sheriff; thank you, Supervisor Cribb; thank you, Council, for helping us do this.” -County Councilman Tommy Newell, District 4

Located at 347 Sangaree Parkway in Summerville, the Sangaree substation will specifically serve the communities of Sangaree, Tall Pines and Nexton and also be manned by members of the Sheriff’s Office Citizens’ Advisory Board. The board is comprised of 25 members who work in our communities and meet quarterly with Sheriff Lewis to relay citizen complaints.

“They take your complaints and funnel them to me. …The deputies you see in these substations go after those problems. What better community policing model do you have when you have the citizens, the citizen leaders, and the law enforcement working together?” -Sheriff Lewis