Candidates for Berkeley County Sheriff speak at Q & A forum

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Nine candidates explained why they think they should be the next Berkeley County Sheriff.

For many residents, they say they want someone who can gain the public's trust back following the Wayne DeWitt DUI controversy.

"We really need a leader now," said Stanley Bruce, a resident in Moncks Corner. 

"We just need a new sheriff in there so we can move on," said Troy Johnson, a resident in Goose Creek.

"We've lost a lot of respect and I thought it was important to come out tonight and see what these candidates had to say about that situation," said Bruce.

That's why Thursday night the candidates answered questions about how they felt about DeWitt being privately sworn in and trying to stay in office. Some focused on the importance of the deputies building relationships with children in the county.

"Our children, we are losing our children. They are committing more and more violent crimes," said Pam Meade-Crabb, a resident in Berkeley County.

"Get out and do something about it. You can't sit in that car you. You have to meet the challenge and meet the people in the community," said Willie Powell, a resident in Moncks Corner.

"We really need to get into the schools and get these kids involved with the deputies," said Bruce. 

Having more deputies on the streets patrolling was also a big talking point. 

"It's hard right now, the economy is hard, but you got to get more people out from behind the desk," said Carol Ramey, a resident in Berkeley County. 

Those living in Berkeley County asked candidates to think about diversity within the department and ways to deal with racial profiling.

"I don't care white, black, Puerto Rican or Mexican, there's no room for racial profiling in the county period," Johnson said.

The primary election will be on April 21 and the special election on June 9.

Copyright 2015 WCSC. All rights reserved.