Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office report shows civilian unit boosting safety

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - An annual report by the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office shows its community-based Public Safety Unit is reducing traffic hazards.

The Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office launched their Public Safety Unit that designates specific staff to traffic safety as of February 2024.

The program is a group of non-sworn civilian employees that are trained by the sheriff’s office. Unit staff are available for help 12 hours a day for seven days a week.

The group responds to traffic services on the county roadways such as directing traffic, flat tires and dead batteries as well as offering on-scene medical assistance before first responders arrive.

Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis says the office saw more than expected need for the program in 2024. An annual report from the department shows the unit responded to nearly three thousand service calls in 2024. Lewis says the program stemmed from the county’s continuously growing population.

The U.S. Census Bureau shows the county recorded a population of over 260,000 in 2024. That number has grown by nearly 35,000 people since 2010.

“With the amount of people on our roadways…it’s almost all the time,” Lewis says. “These officers are out there to patrol those areas, offer assistance to citizens. They responded to almost three thousand calls for service just last year.”

Another goal for the program is to allow deputies to focus on more critical emergencies. The unit covers minor traffic issues which relieves deputies from leaving their duties.

“Here in Berkeley, they respond and relieve the deputies from having to direct traffic,” Lewis says. “They can concentrate on rendering aid or stay in service and answer calls. It’s really kind of a relief factor for the deputies that are out there.”

A typical day for the unit is to move in squads. The sheriff says future goals include adding another staff member to the program.

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