This month’s meeting was held at the Del Webb Library in Indian Land. A number of items were discussed, including looking for volunteers for two upcoming events mentioned at end of Newsletter.

Our featured speakers were Lancaster County Coroner Karla Knight Deese & Lancaster County Sheriff Barry Faile. They presented an overview of how their departments work together and why both are highly respected in their fields.

Coroner Karla Knight Deese

Coroner Deese is D-ABMDI (American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators). She started the meeting discussing many topics, then took questions on topics such as….

•  The difference between a medical examiner and a coroner: A coroner is not required to be a medical doctor – and she is not an MD. Karla mentioned she does have a “Master’s in Common Sense.”
•  Lancaster County’s numbers of deaths from 2019 – 2022 and various causes vs. “natural death.” Coroner Deese explained that any death with unanswered questions is investigated to find the actual cause.In some area’s “seniors” who pass might be classified as passing due to age…BUT IN LANCASTER COUNTY if there are unanswered questions they will investigate further.

She discussed drug deaths – both prescription and others such as Fentanyl, etc. and the difference between overdose and death.

Nationwide some Covid deaths may have had other causes which may have been overlooked on death certificates. 

Coroner Deese and her staff also are “Crime Scene Investigators.”  If needed, autopsies conducted by her office are free to the families as this is a county department funded with taxpayer dollars.

They are working on being one of the few accredited coroner’s offices in the state and due to ARPA federal funding they are enlarging their facilities, which will allow accreditation.  Her office has the highest number of training hours per deputy in the state.  One deputy coroner has the highest of anyone in the state.

Sheriff Barry Faile

Sheriff Faile announced they just broke up a local dog fighting ring and confiscated 33 dogs, 7 guns and more.

He then presented information on crime statistics (percent of solved cases), how the county is divided in various sectors, number of staff on patrol, as well as, in the detention center. 

He discussed local response times with the county vs. many other areas, manpower, training and types of crime in Lancaster County.  Sheriff Faile discussed how closely his office works with the Coroner’s office, as well as, the Solicitor’s office and others.  They offer rehabilitation programs, when possible, to try and help those who might otherwise go to jail and not have an opportunity to improve the path they might otherwise find themselves on.

He credited the Lancaster County Council with being very good to his department in recent years and mentioned how as the population grows his department along with many others need to grow in order to keep up with services provided.   

Sheriff Faile also mentioned the training of his department and that they strive to maintain and exceed the highest level of training.  The Sheriff’s office is one of the few with accreditation. They also offer a Citizens Academy Agenda, which is 10 weeks long, to acquaint citizens with behind the scenes work of law enforcement.

Other Business Discussed at the Meeting:

•  Indian Land Fall Festival – Sept 30th
  Indian Land SC House, Representative Michael Neese has secured us a spot in the festival.
  Hours:  – The event is from 10am – 8pm, Saturday, September 30th with fireworks at the end.
  Location – Indian Land Schools Campus at 8063 River Road, Indian Land, SC.
  
  We have some volunteers to help but more would be appreciated.
  Please call Ken Beck at 707-494-8717 to volunteer.
•  A Star-Spangled Christmas – A Variety & Comedy Show – December 15, 2023 at 7 pm.
  This event is put on by Lancaster County Emergency Services & The University of South Carolina – Lancaster. Proceeds will go to the Disabled American Veterans and the Lancaster County Veteran’s Council. We are reserving a number of seats at $12 each.  They cannot be purchased at the door or online. If you would like to join those of us attending, please email us at ILR@indianlandrepublicans.com.
  Location is University of SC in Lancaster in Bundy Auditorium.
  This is about 18 miles from Sun City.
•  Finally – SC Safe Elections is asking for people to be involved with trying to have South Carolina pass a Resolution comparable to the Republican National Convention regarding Election Integrity.  See their webpage at www.scsafeelections.org.