This Veterans Day, the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department wants to do more than say thank you for your service. We want to hire you for it.
The discipline, leadership under pressure and drive to protect others that service members build over years are the same qualities that make a great deputy. We sat down with Sgt. Dan Rusinyak, a veteran of both the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy Reserve, to talk about the pathways LCSD offers to help service members and veterans make the move into civilian law enforcement.
A veteran’s perspective
Sgt. Rusinyak knows the transition firsthand. He served four years in the U.S. Army with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, deploying twice, followed by eight years in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Master-at-Arms non-commissioned officer.
“Having served in two branches, both the United States Army and the United States Navy, I get it. I can tell you firsthand the values and the skills that I’ve learned in both branches have really tremendously helped me out here in the law enforcement setting.”
He is far from alone. Today, more than 120 veterans work at LCSD, including 22 who are still serving in the National Guard or Reserves.
Why law enforcement is a natural fit for veterans
For Sgt. Rusinyak, the case for a career in law enforcement starts with shared values.
“The core values of the military translate almost identically over to what we have here: honor, courage, integrity, determination. It’s those things that we can definitely use on our side.”
Career paths for every skill set
Veterans can find a place at LCSD whether they want to wear a badge or serve in a professional staff role. Sworn options include patrol deputy, school resource officer, court deputy and detention deputy. The department also has multiple professional staff opportunities.
See what’s open now on the current jobs page.
DoD SkillBridge: Intern with LCSD on full military pay
For service members nearing their separation date, the Department of Defense SkillBridge program, known in the Army as the Career Skills Program, lets you spend your last three to six months of active duty interning directly with LCSD.
SkillBridge participants can shadow patrol deputies, work with specialized units or gain hands-on experience in the department’s professional staff divisions. Best of all, you keep 100% of your military pay, basic allowance for housing, health care and full benefits while you train.
“It essentially serves as a zero-risk trial run. They can test out life as an LCSD deputy or civilian employee, learn our culture and network with our leadership, all while they still continue to get their military paycheck. By the time your military separation date hits, you’re already set up to seamlessly step into a full-time career with us.”
Army PaYS: A guaranteed interview
The U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success program is open to soldiers in the Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve, as well as ROTC cadets. If you selected LCSD as a PaYS partner when you signed your enlistment contract, you are guaranteed a job interview with the department when you leave the service.
Military training in logistics, communications, tactical operations or leadership puts your resume at the top of the queue. Sgt. Rusinyak’s advice: reach out to LCSD as you begin your Transition Assistance Program, so the department can make sure you’re on track and have an interview ready for you.
ESGR: Support for Guard and Reserve members
Not every service member is leaving the military entirely. For those serving in the South Carolina National Guard or Reserve, LCSD is committed to being a Guard- and Reserve-friendly employer through Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
The department understands the demands of drill weekends, annual training and sudden state deployments. LCSD policies adhere strictly to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act, so your job is protected and your leadership supports you when duty calls.
“You don’t have to choose between your military career and your law enforcement career. We have hired many, many National Guard and reservists, and it’s a very seamless transition for those currently serving in the Reserve and Guard components to come and work for us.”
What it takes to succeed
Asked what veterans need to thrive at LCSD, Sgt. Rusinyak points to the qualities service members already carry with them.
“Your determination, your courage, your commitment, your loyalty, that self-sacrifice for others, that heart for community. It’s those things, that perseverance, that intestinal fortitude, that will continue to push you forward and ensure success.”
How to take the next step
Service members on active duty who are six to 12 months from separation can talk to their unit command and TAP counselor about setting up a SkillBridge internship with LCSD. Army and ROTC veterans can check their PaYS portal or contact LCSD directly to schedule a guaranteed PaYS interview. Guard and Reserve members can reach out to recruiters to ask how department policies support drill schedules and military obligations.
Questions about any of these programs? Contact Sgt. Rusinyak at drusinyak@lcsd.sc.gov.
Your service isn’t over. It’s taking on a new mission right here at home. Visit joinLCSD.com to learn more about careers with the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department.