As with any change in career path, the transition from the military to civilian life is a big deal. The conditions become fundamentally different and many veterans struggle to find meaningful work. If you’re a service member thinking ahead to life outside of the military or are a veteran eager to transition into a new career, law enforcement can feel like a natural fit.

Those who are coming out of military service carry a range of high-level skills and discipline, a lot of which are transferable skills to anyone interested in a deputy or school resource officer role. Here are three reasons why veterans should consider a career in law enforcement:

It’s another opportunity to serve. 

Followed by the opportunity to continue a family tradition and to earn respect, the number one reason why people join the military is for the chance to serve their country. Many Americans enlist in the armed services with a desire to serve and make an impact, and the same goes for those who enter careers in law enforcement.

From protecting the community, serving as a role model for the younger generation, and having a presence that could save lives, any position in law enforcement gives you a great opportunity to serve the greater good of the community.

Veterans are trained to work as a team to thrive.

The military emphasizes the importance of teamwork from the second you step foot in boot camp in order to get through situations safely and efficiently. Military members are also taught to communicate with confidence and clarity as part of their training exercises. They’re taught the way a message is delivered is crucial to their survival – which is also important in law enforcement.

In both careers, you’re surrounded by people who will be there for you and have your back. You’re working with people who all have the same intentions and want to help you succeed.

Critical thinking in fast-paced environments is not new to veterans.

The ability to understand instructions, solve problems, learn and easily adapt is one of the first things a recruiter will assess when candidates are looking to enter the law enforcement profession. It is crucial to be able to make informed and smart decisions in any situation. Veterans are not new to this responsibility, which makes them a great fit for all types of law enforcement roles.

If you’re looking to transition into another role where you can wear your uniform with pride, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office has open positions available and is proud to work with veterans.

There is a growing emphasis on law enforcement agencies building relationships with the community they serve. Here in Lexington County, we are extremely grateful for the relationship we have with our community and for the unparalleled support we have from them.

We work hard to make sure the community knows we have their back and that we are serving with the overall goal of protecting them and their families. Many of the events we do provide the community an opportunity to meet us face to face and start those conversations that build good relationships. A few examples of events we participate in throughout the year:

Touch a Truck

This annual event is one of the highlights of our calendar. It targets mostly children, and is a time for the youngest members of the community to get an inside look at some of the trucks and vehicles they may see us, and other first responders, drive throughout their community. From patrol cars to boats, it gives children a hands-on experience to interact with deputies and ask any questions. These are often hosted in partnership with other local first responders and are a highly-favored event among families.

National Night Out

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances.

Each August, multiple National Night Out events are hosted throughout different neighborhoods, homes and parks in the community. Community members are invited to come play games, enjoy great food and really get to know the people who serve them every day.

Teaming Up with Local Businesses

Strengthening community relationships with not only the people, but other organizations and businesses in the area has been a key focus for our department. Whether it’s partnering with a local summer camp to show up and host a demonstration about fingerprinting, working with a local food bank on a fundraiser or showing up to throw the first pitch at the city’s local baseball game, we have done it. Seek out unique opportunities and don’t be afraid to try new ways of partnering with the community.

If you’re looking to join a department that holds the community at the heart of everything it does, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department would love to have you join our family. You can learn more about us and our community at www.joinlcsd.com.

Investigator Carleisha Gilliam knew she wanted to work in law enforcement at an early age. Gilliam told people, even at 3 or 4 years old, she wanted to be a law enforcement officer, and she stuck to that plan.

Gilliam graduated from Lander University and went to graduate school at Columbia College. She then found her home at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

She started as a patrol deputy in 2019 and moved up to the Major Crimes Unit in just two years. Gilliam said her co-workers immediately noticed her potential, which pushed her to work harder.

“It feels good to have people that back you up, and you just met them,” Gilliam said. “It’s like
they’re family now.”

After moving up, Gilliam continued to experience that family environment, as her investigator team became her favorite part about the job.

“We’re the Special Victims Unit, so we deal with a lot of children who have been abused, sexually or physically,” Gilliam said. “That in itself is tough but to have the team that I have, I just really couldn’t ask for any other guys to work with…for us to just get each other through it and still do our job and maintain like a good mental state.”

These experiences as an investigator have taught her many lessons, none more important than how she can push herself.

“I learned that it’s OK to step outside,” Gilliam said. “It’s OK to get uncomfortable because in this job you have to be uncomfortable in order to grow.”

Law enforcement is one of those jobs with a vast array of possibilities and multiple routes you can choose for your career. One that isn’t always thought about is a position as a school resource officer. We’ve highlighted some of the responsibilities of a school resource officer here so you can know what the job entails and if it’s something for you. 

The purpose of the school resource officer is to promote a safe learning environment for students, staff and parents.They provide crime prevention and law enforcement services to all people involved in school based activities (both on and off campus) and often work with other law enforcement agencies as well.

A school resource officer needs to be very alert to identify any potential problems beforehand and respond to them appropriately. They are responsible for instructing a wide variety of information and helping coordinate emergency response plans that are quick and practical.

Overall, SROs act as a role model and mentor to many students, so they have a big opportunity to be visible in the school community and build genuine relationships with the students, staff and families. They work in elementary, middle and high schools

The Lexington County Sheriff’s Department is currently hiring for School Resource Officer positions. If you want to make a difference in the school community or learn more about the role, you can click here for more information.

With the high level of responsibility and trust given to those in law enforcement, you can expect the hiring standards to be higher than many other careers. While each department has slightly different requirements depending on the state or town, there are a few universal practices. If you’re considering a career in law enforcement, there are a few things you can ask yourself to see if you’re prepared to step into a law enforcement role.

1. Do you meet the minimum qualifications?

It’s important to consider whether or not you meet the minimum requirements of the role before anything else. If you don’t, this is something you can work on now to ensure the likelihood of your landing the job in the future.

Most departments require a high school diploma or equivalent at minimum. Sometimes you will also need a college degree, experience in a similar field, or a certification from the Criminal Justice Academy depending on the role. U.S. citizenship and an active driver’s license are things you can generally expect to need too.

As far as age requirements, with the new Law Enforcement Training Bill, citizens in South Carolina as young as 18 can begin their careers in detention. You would then have the possibility to move into patrol when you turn 21. Job listings always come with a list of qualifications, so pay close attention to them before you apply.

2. Do you understand the application process?

Knowing and understanding the ins and out of the hiring process is important, so you know exactly what to expect. HR will definitely do a background check (looking at past criminal history if any, previous work history, your social media profiles, etc.), so make sure you evaluate your past behaviors and associations before applying. 

Departments will also evaluate both your body and mind with processes such as physical ability tests, interviews, polygraph tests, psychological evaluations and more. The entire application process can take up to a few months. Keep in mind you might have to go to the academy to become certified, so this can be an additional hurdle before you’re able to officially start the job. 

3. Why do you want to go into law enforcement?

Know your motivation behind wanting to join law enforcement, and make sure your intentions are right. Be sure to research the department you’re interested in ahead of time and make sure it’s a good fit for you. If you are unsure if it’s the right direction for you, reach out to the department to see what opportunities they have for you to get a sneak peek at the role before diving in.

At LCSD, you have the opportunity to ride along or participate in our Explorer program if you are between the ages of 14-20. This program gives students a behind-the-scenes look at a career in law enforcement and offers students a personal awareness of the criminal justice system through training, practical experiences, competition and other activities. Some departments will also offer ride-alongs, which are a great way to get a feel for the role.

It’s important to keep in mind there are many different opportunities inside each department, so find out what resonates with you and work toward meeting the requirements of that role. Preparation is the key to a successful career.

If you’re interested in working for the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, please get in touch. We would love to discuss what we can do to get you in a career you’re passionate about. You can learn more about us and get in touch here: Join LCSD – Join the Lexington County Sheriff’s Office

Whether you know a career in law enforcement is right for you and you’re looking for the right role or you’re on a journey to find a rewarding career path, we want to highlight some of the many benefits of working within detention. As a deputy in detention, your main job purpose is to provide for the safety of the staff and inmates, but there are many more benefits that come with the job.

One great perk of working within detention is the job security and opportunities. In an age where many jobs are or are at risk of being replaced by robots and AI, this job is one that will likely never go away. There will always be a need for it and that allows you the opportunity for a long-term career to grow and excel in. Working in detention also allows you the chance to work in an active environment that changes daily, so it doesn’t feel mundane like classic office work might. 

Another key benefit to consider is that working as a government employee often means deputies can qualify for earlier retirements, competitive benefit and insurance packages, and robust pension plans. With South Carolina recently signing a bill allowing 18-year-olds to work in corrections, it means those as young as 18 can begin their training to be a detention deputy as long as they have a high school diploma. This means young adults have the chance to avoid student debt as no college degree is needed (though certain degrees can always help) and training is provided once hired. Even without a four-year degree, there’s a high earning potential that can continue to increase the longer you work.

Lastly, a role in detention allows you to really hone your skills to become a more well-rounded individual. There will be difficult situations and challenges, these allow you to build on your leadership and problem-solving skills. You’ll be surrounded in a diverse environment with people from different backgrounds and life experiences, which gives you new perspectives on life. There’s also an element of working in detention that strengthens your physical stamina and agility.

If any of this sounds appealing to you, you might just be a perfect fit for a job within detention. We have openings for detention deputies at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and encourage you to apply if you’d love to be part of a wonderful community.

Detention Sergeant James Davenport grew up just a few-hundred feet from the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.

He remembers watching the deputy sheriff cars passing his house on the way to the Sheriff’s Department’s headquarters. Now, Davenport is 12 years into his career at the Lexington County Detention Center.

When his son was nearing birth in 2010, Davenport started as a detention deputy, wanting a stable job to take care of his expanding family.

Since then, Davenport has acquired many experiences as a booking officer, classification officer and working with federal programs. As booking sergeant, he currently oversees the booking and release processes for inmates.

“I think the best part is booking people in…they come in under drugs or alcohol and they’ve been here, they get out and they’re sober,” Davenport said. “And you get to release them back into the community knowing that they can better suit the community because they’re not on drugs anymore.”

Davenport said the family atmosphere with his co-workers in the Detention Center is a crucial part of his job.

“If you’re going through stuff, people will call and check on you,” Davenport said. “You know they’re always there to have your back if you’re going through stuff… We collect money for them if they’ve been out for a long period of time, so they won’t fall back on their bills.”

Davenport credits many sergeants, lieutenants and his major for training and giving him knowledge about the field in his 12 years at the Detention Center. An important part of this training was dealing with inmates.

“Growing up in Lexington County, I know a lot of people that come in here,” Davenport said. “I treat them how I want to be treated because at the end of the day, everybody is somebody’s sister, brother, father, mother.”