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Orangeburg police chief introduces 10 new officers, says recruitment goal met
Summary
Chief Austin told council the department recruited 10 new officers in roughly 2½ months; he introduced the new hires by name and said one has already completed the academy while another is due to graduate next week.
Chief Austin introduced 10 new officers to the Orangeburg City Council on Jan. 2, saying the department met a recent recruitment goal and that the new hires will bolster patrol and community policing efforts.
"About 2 and a half months ago, we set out on a mission to recruit 10 new officers," Chief Austin said. "And we've accomplished that mission. In fact, one of them has already completed the academy. We had one person who came on board already certified and we have the others who are in various stages." (Chief Austin, introduction to council.)
Chief Austin listed the new officers by name: Patrolman Colin Etheridge; PSO Israel Brooks; PSO Christopher Tyler; PSO Willie McDuffie (who owns a business in the city and will share his time with the department); PSO Jonathan Wright; PSO John Jamerson; PSO Ralph Kreps (the greeter at the council meeting); PSO Rudolph Bryant; and PSO Gavin Sodak, who was at the academy and scheduled to graduate the following week. The chief encouraged the new officers to assist with recruitment going forward.
Mayor Michael C. Butler and council members welcomed the officers and offered the council's support. The introductions were ceremonial; there was no formal council vote associated with the hiring at the meeting record and no employment terms were discussed in detail during the presentation.
