Berkeley County South Carolina Sheriff's Office

Office of Professional Standards

Inspector Dan Isgett commands the Office of Professional Standards. The Office of Professional Standards is responsible for the agency’s Administrative Investigations, Polygraph & Background Investigations, Grants, Accreditation, Recruitment, Planning and Research, and Emergency Operations.

Professional Standards Unit
Sheriff Lewis created the Office of Professional Standards Division and the Internal Affairs unit to investigate serious incidents and coordinate citizens complaint investigations. This unit is also responsible for conducting background investigations for all Sheriff’s Office applicants. Applicants for Deputy Sheriff positions must successfully pass an extensive background process. This includes driver’s license and criminal history checks, credit checks and verification of employment and education records. It also includes a reading comprehension test, a physical abilities test, a polygraph examination and medical and psychological screening.
In 2018, The Professional Standards unit:

  • conducted 130 background investigations
  • processed 553 applications
  • hired 31 sworn deputies
  • hired six civilian employees
  • conducted 18 internal affairs investigations
  • coordinated 21 citizens complaints

National and State Accreditation
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring that we meet the national and state standards for law enforcement excellence. B.C.S.O was awarded their initial National Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2013.

We achieved reaccreditation in 2016. We are one of only nine Nationally Accredited Sheriff’s Offices in South Carolina. Law Enforcement Accreditation is a voluntary program that benefits the citizens of Berkeley County.

Accreditation increases community advocacy, reduces risk and liability exposure, provides greater accountability within the Sheriff’s Office and a stronger defense against civil lawsuits. The accreditation on-site assessment provides an independent and objective peer review of the Sheriff’s Office policies, programs and practices. During the On-Site review, CALEA Assessors review accreditation files and conduct interviews with agency personnel and members of the community. Assessors also conduct inspections and observations of equipment, facilities and high liability areas.

Grant’s Management
Grant’s management is responsible for developing and submitting grant applications, assisting with project planning and budgeting and detailing performance measures.
Once a grant is awarded, grants personnel approve procurement expenditures to ensure they are within the terms of the grant.
They oversee the implementation of the grant and submit financial and programmatic reporting.
Fourteen additional positions have been funded through grants:

  • DUI Prosecutor
  • DUI Enforcement Deputies x 2
  • additional Victim Advocate
  • Child/Elder Abuse Investigator
  • Domestic Violence Investigator
  • Community Oriented Policing Deputies x 8

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office was the only agency to be awarded a DUI prosecutor and a Child / Elder Abuse Investigator.
The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office was awarded over $2.4 million in state and federal grants since 2015.
Items purchased by BCSO through grant funds:

  • 137 Body Worn cameras
  • 13 Dash Cameras
  • 49 Portable Radios
  • 21 Tasers
  • Litter Control Equipment
  • A Patrol K9
  • A Firearms Simulator
  • A Pharmaceutical Safe
  • Surveillance cameras for the Sheriff’s office
  • Community Action Team Equipment

The Office of Professional Standards also develops long term plans and reports. Every year, the agency’s multi-year plan is updated and reviewed. This plan addresses the organizational structure, population trends, calls for service, personnel levels, capital improvements and long-term goals and operational objectives.

Annual reports are also provided to the Sheriff and Command Staff for use of force, pursuits, recruitment, response to active threats, biased policing, grievances, internal affairs, task force reviews, specialized unit reviews, audits of property and evidence, central records password audits, juvenile justice programs, personnel early warning system review and annual goals and objectives.