As the Town of Lexington’s Snowball Festival officially kicks off the holiday season and we start to think about heading to Cedar Ridge to pick up a tree, we’re pausing for a moment to celebrate the hard work of all the team members here at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.
We are so thankful for their dedication to both the community and one another. They pull together as a family to bring our community values to life and to fulfill our mission of making Lexington County a safer place and a closer community.
It’s been a year of many achievements for the team, and no – we’re not just talking about Sheriff Koon bringing home the one and only Golden Peanut from the Third Annual South Carolina State Fair Celebrity Boiled Peanut Eating Contest!
In 2022, the efforts of an incredible 37 members of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department team have been recognized through promotion as these high-flyers continue to progress their careers with us.
We talked to a few of our deputies about their year and journey, and you’ll also find a full list of all the department promotions below. If you’re inspired by their stories and want to find out more about building your own career with us, take a look at our vacancies page.
Congratulations and thank you to all of them for their service from Sheriff Koon, their co-workers, and all the citizens of Lexington County.
A double promotion for the Department’s ultimate multitasker
Kalie Natale promoted to Resident Deputy – Dixiana. Then promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
How do you lasso a cow without a rope? Just ask Deputy Natale! From turning crime scene tape into a makeshift lasso to contain an escaped cow in Swansea to juggling the night shift with being a fulltime criminal justice student, Deputy Natale is on-the-go 24/7.
Having started out in the National Guard as a military police soldier, Natale brings a can-do attitude to any wild situation she finds herself in.
Luckily for us, Natale feels right at home here in Lexington. “Getting out of my hometown is the best thing that I ever did,” she says reflecting on leaving Ohio.
Lexington is her new home and the Department have become like family to her. “We’re here more than we are home,” she says, so it’s really easy to make friends and just make your own family here”.
Finding his confidence and a vocation
Josh Boozer promoted to Resident Deputy – Gilbert
Feeling stuck as an electrical engineering major who didn’t like math, Josh Boozer’s sister suggested he take some criminal justice courses. One of his instructors was Capt. Jesse Laintz who convinced Boozer to start his career at the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department. And the rest, as they say, is history.
“I think I’m kind of a timid person,” Boozer said, reflecting on how he’s changed since joining the department in 2020, “I’m much more open now, much more confident”.
He might be celebrating being promoted to resident deputy this year, but the team’s approachability has helped Boozer build his confidence and look ahead to the next steps in his law enforcement career.
Talking about Sheriff Koon and the command staff, he says “I’m not afraid to go talk to them or approach them, and they make a point to come and talk to you as well…It’s really cool to be able to have that relationship with the upper echelon of the agency.”
The “little sister” that’s never to be underestimated
Hannah Joslin promoted to Investigator – CSI
With a mom who worked for an attorney and a state trooper as a dad, Hannah Joslin had been inspired to pursue a career in law enforcement since she was a kid.
Despite her background, some doubted it would be the right fit: “There’s a stereotype of only men can be in law enforcement or taller women,” she explains “and I don’t fit that stereotype.”
“A lot of people like to underestimate me just because I am small,” she continues, “and I’m a person that likes to prove people wrong, so that’s pretty much what I did”.
Her West Region colleagues welcomed her with open arms. “They’re all like big brothers to me… I’m like the annoying little sister they never wanted, but they got anyways”, she jokes talking warmly of her “second family”.
Congratulations and thank you for your service to all of our valued team members who were promoted in 2022:
- Shannon Lovell promoted to Sergeant – Community Services
- Kaaren Miller promoted to Sergeant – Training
- Bryan Sharpe promoted to Sergeant – Patrol
- Casey Betts promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Alexander Rosado promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Christopher Threatt promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Jason Burbage promoted to Investigator – Property Crimes
- Jonathan Jeffcoat promoted to Investigator – Property Crimes
- Dane Walker promoted to Sergeant – Patrol
- Adrian Zona promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Daniel Brown promoted to Resident Deputy – Boiling Springs
- Kalie Natale promoted to Resident Deputy – Dixiana. Then promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol.
- Josh Vicari promoted to Resident Deputy – Red Bank
- Joe Hart promoted to Sergeant – Major Crimes Unit
- Bryan Senn promoted to Investigator – Major Crimes Unit
- Mitchell Labesky promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Reinaldo Chacon promoted to School Resource Officer.
- Martin Kaminski promoted to Senior Deputy – Traffic
- Josh Bice promoted to Senior Investigator – Major Crimes Unit
- Nick McMillan promoted to Senior Investigator
- Austin Sanner promoted to Senior Investigator
- Everette Smith promoted to Senior Investigator
- Brannon Marthers promoted to Sergeant – Intel
- Vickie Bookman promoted to Senior Detention Deputy
- Troy Hall promoted to Senior Detention Deputy
- Nick Huffstetler promoted to Sergeant – Patrol
- Mark Moore promoted to Investigator – Property Crimes
- Jeterika Porter promoted to Master Deputy – Patrol
- Stefan Sharpe promoted to Sergeant – Patrol
- Thomas Smith promoted to Senior Investigator – CSI
- Walker Spires promoted to Assistant Manager – HQ Front Desk
- Jacob Caraway promoted to Senior Deputy – K9
- Greg Love promoted to Master Deputy – K9
- Josh Boozer promoted to Resident Deputy – Gilbert
- Hannah Joslin promoted to Investigator – CSI
- Lori Hayes promoted to project coordinator – HR
- James Westbury promoted to sergeant – Major Crimes Unit
- David Hellman promoted to Master Deputy – Civil Process
- Nic Ferrara promoted to Accounting Clerk II (Finance)
- Austin Sanders has been promoted to Resident Deputy – Three Fountains
- Taylor Sebben has been promoted to Resident Deputy – Dixiana
- Andrew Harmon has been promoted to Resident Deputy – Boiling Springs
- Terrell Huffaker has been promoted to Investigator – CSI
- Stephanie Cobb has been promoted to Senior Investigator – Major Crimes Unit