Politics & Government

Meet the Candidate: Sheriff L.C. Knight

Asking for a second term, Knight says his changes have worked.

Sheriff L.C. Knight isn't done yet. 

In June, the first-term sheriff will ask voters to chose him in the Republican primary as he squares off against Dorchester County School District Two Security Coordinator Mike Turner, a fellow graducate of .

"We have made a lot of changes in the department," Knight said, adding that the changes have worked to streamline the department. He won the primary in 2008 against Terry Boatwright, and was unopposed in the general. Former Sheriff Ray Nash retired and did not seek reelection that year.

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If Knight wins the party's primary and then the election in November, he said he looks forward to helping the county complete the . He added that he still has much to do with reforming the Sheriff's Office.

He called his ability to work with county council one of his greatest strengths.

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Knight is especially proud of his department working within the budget the county has allotted, even turning back $1 million, and not cutting any services. He made the sheriff's department more centralized by eliminating regions and focusing on zones.

Knight has improved the condition of the department's fleet and worked to get new equipment by applying for grants. 

To build public opinion of his department, all deputies — including part-time deputies — must wear Class A uniforms and drive marked cars. 

"If you look good, people think you're good," Knight said. It's a concept he picked up from his days at SLED, he said. Knight has more than 30 years in law enforcement experience.

Knight isn't just about appearances either. He's also mandated deputies go to one week of training per year, and he's instituted mandatory drug screens. 

He's also brought to session night court so his deputies booking alleged criminals late at night don't have to come back early in the morning to appear in court. 

Though new to the job, Knight's in the family business. His father Carl Knight served as county sheriff for 30 years. 

Editor's Note: This is one story in a series focused on candidates running in 2012. To see more stories on this topic, click here

Correction: This story originally stated that Knight "won unopposed in 2008." This is misleading since he did face opposition in the primary race. He was only unopposed in the general election.


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