GEAR UP FOR THE 10TH ANNUAL JAILBREAK ESCAPE CHALLENGE RUN

Think you have what it takes to bust out of jail? Put your mental endurance and physical fitness to the test at our upcoming Jailbreak Escape – Urban Challenge Run on Saturday August 26, 2023.

You’ll have to run, weave, carry and leap your way round the 3.1 mile (5 km) course at 541 Gibson Road, taking on CrossFit-style exercises to show us what you’re made of.

Run by the Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation, entries cost $35 per person for this fun, healthy, family activity designed for participants of all ages and fitness levels.

As any law enforcement officer will tell you, a great partner helps motivate you, carrying you when things get tough – literally – when it comes to this race. You’ll need to buddy up and find a teammate to take on the Jailbreak Escape Urban Challenge Run with you.

As well as being a fun family day out, the race plays an important role in our department’s fundraising calendar. The Jailbreak has raised more than $95,000 to support professional law enforcement services in Lexington County.

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Foundation works to raise awareness of the Sheriff’s Department, its functions, operations and programs. Its fundraising activities work to fill any void between governmental funding and the needs of the community, providing vital materials, equipment and supplies that aren’t in the annual budget.

“This tenth annual Jailbreak Escape Urban Challenge Run helps raise important funds to enhance the great work the department does here in Lexington County,” explains Sheriff Jay Koon.

“The race is more than a physical challenge. It’s about teamwork, endurance, and yes, a little sweat – all things our officers use daily to serve the community which we’re so proud to be a part of.”

This year’s entrants already include Barely Holden On, Easier said than run, and Will Run for Snacks. Join them to challenge yourself, have fun, and raise money for a great cause. Register to take part today.

Looking to skip the sweat? Donate directly to the foundation here, and join us on the day to cheer on your favorite escapees!

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HISTORY-MAKING SRO SUPPORT FOR OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS

From the students and teachers on campus, to their loved ones at home or work, Lexington County residents can rest easy knowing for the first time in history every public school in the county has a permanently assigned school resource officer.

Almost 40 Lexington County deputies have taken on the responsibility of being the face of law enforcement in 35 schools, with two on duty each day at Chapin, Irmo, Lexington and White Knoll high schools.

“This is a landmark accomplishment that has taken a lot of work and cooperation from all the law enforcement agencies and the five school districts across Lexington County,” Sheriff Jay Koon says. “I’m proud of the role we’ve played in providing full SRO coverage for our community’s elementary, middle and high schools.”

Being an SRO comes with many responsibilities. As well as crime prevention and crisis response, officers are there to build relationships with students as another adult they can turn to for support and advice.

“He’s a true definition of a school resource officer,” Brad Coleman, principal of Sandhills Middle School says of SRO Durco. “He’s a resource to all of our students, our faculty, our staff. He just connects with our students, building positive relationships with all our students.”

From leading the color guard team, to having lunch with students, organizing a crime scene activity to explaining the role of law enforcement, no two days are the same for our dedicated team of SROs.

“One of the biggest things we do is to talk to kids,” explains SRO Booth, “We tell them, hey, we’re not just a face, we’re a person, we were a kid at one time, we understand there’s many challenges in life.”

These conversations can make the difference between a young person turning down the wrong path and having the support they need to make better choices.

The important role they play as mentors to students is recognized each year on SRO Appreciation Day.

Funding for these additional SRO posts was made possible in part thanks to hard work by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and the General Assembly.

“Thanks to pay increases in the previous two budget cycles, we’ve seen deputies step up to take on these important roles,” Koon says. “The pay increases have also positioned us to hire deputies from the outside.”

The growing department is always on the lookout for the next team members ready to serve the community.

Whether it’s as an SRO, or a valued member of our detention and administrative teams, take a look at our current vacancies and what makes the LCSD team so special at joinlcsd.com.

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LEXINGTON COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT HOST 2023 ‘SC ASSOCIATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPLORERS CONFERENCE (ALSO KNOWN AS SCALE)

The next generation of law enforcement officers was put to the test from July 24-29 as part of the summer South Carolina Association of Law Enforcement Explorers (SCALE) conference.

Lexington County hosted 10 police departments and sheriff’s offices from across the state, ready to put their teams of young explorers through their paces.

A national initiative that’s part of the Boy Scouts of America program, the Law Enforcement Program is designed to give young people between the ages of 14 and 20 an understanding and insight into the world of law enforcement.

As well as weekly meetings, the summer and winter conferences give teens the chance to test their skills in a nationwide competition.

Following last year’s summer conference at Benedict College, Explorers found themselves faced with a wide variety of challenges, from written tests to executing a high-risk traffic stop.

They went head-to-head on key skills developed through the program, including physical agility, building clearing, and crime scene investigation.

With ten competing teams and three training teams taking part, Summerville Police Department was announced as the first place winner at the closing ceremony followed by Mount Pleasant Police Department taking second place, and Goose Creek Police Department taking third.

“Summer SCALE has been very exciting and had fun events. I enjoyed all of the scenarios including the judges at the events as they provided us with great constructive criticism, which will hopefully build me to becoming a great police officer. Everyone was very nice and I enjoyed my time here in Lexington as they have treated us like family.” Mackenzie Godfrey, Goose Creek PD Explorer

“Every single person taking part in this year’s conference should be proud of themselves, their commitment and their accomplishments,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said.

“Hosting this conference and helping young people explore what it means to serve their community is an honor. It’s vital to developing the next generation of law enforcement talent that we look forward to welcoming to the team here in Lexington County,” he continued.

From ride-along opportunities, to meeting judges and prosecutors, the Law Enforcement Explorers program isn’t just about understanding what makes the criminal justice system tick, it’s about fellowship, character development and personal growth.

The competition might be over for this summer, but those looking to get involved can find out more about joining the Explorers program and getting game ready in time for the winter SCALE conference.

A big thank you to the departments, schools, local government and church groups that allowed us to use their facilities, and congratulations to everyone in the Summerville Police Department.