Dorchester County sheriff candidates prepare for primary election day

DORCHESTER COUNTY, SC (WCBD) – The race for Dorchester County’s top law enforcement officer will narrow down to two candidates after voters weigh in Tuesday.

Four men are vying to replace outgoing Sheriff LC Knight, who is retiring after four terms.

Mike Turner, a 34-year Lowcountry law enforcement veteran, is one of two candidates hoping to win the Republican Party nomination.

“My vision for law enforcement in Dorchester County is community-oriented policing,” he told News 2 while placing campaign signs at Fort Dorchester Elementary School on Monday. “As sheriff-elect, I will commit to putting 15 patrol officers on patrol 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” 24 hours a day”

Turner currently serves as police chief and chief of public safety at The Citadel. He previously held positions with the Sheriff's Office and the Summerville Police Department.

In the GOP contest, he faces Sam Richardson, another longtime law enforcement officer and the agency's current chief deputy sheriff.

If elected, Richardson said he would work to put more deputies on the streets and use technology to modernize investigative techniques.

“In terms of intelligence-led policy and community policing, I want to take that information and apply it through our technology,” Richardson said as he greeted voters Monday in St. George. “Improvements with our patrol, improvements with detention, improvements with our schools and school resource officers. »

On the Democratic side, two candidates are also in the running.

One of those candidates is Trumaine Moorer, a 30-year law enforcement veteran who is hoping to secure the party's nomination for a second consecutive election cycle.

Moorer ran against Sheriff Knight in the 2020 general election, but was ultimately unsuccessful. He told News 2 he believes he can make changes to the sheriff's office if elected.

“I just heard the complaints from Dorchester County and I feel like I can change the outlook and culture of the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office,” Moorer said. “I believe in excellent customer service. I believe in building a relationship with the community and I think that's what it takes.

Moorer faces a challenge from Charles Frederick, a law enforcement officer with 25 years of experience with the sheriff's office and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

During his campaign, he emphasized the need for the sheriff's office to modernize, adapt to the county's growing population and focus more on public safety.

Frederick did not respond to News 2's request for an interview Monday.

To learn more about the candidates, click here.