Berkeley County civil service commission adopts revised open-hire rules, shortens marijuana disqualification period

The Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff Civil Service Commission on June 18, 2025, unanimously adopted revised open‑hire rules and regulations that change drug‑use eligibility standards, clarify procedures for candidates who decline promotions or tests, and create a special‑circumstances process for makeup examinations.

Commission records show the commission approved the revised document with an effective date of June 18, 2025. Commissioner Wilson, who presented the changes at the meeting, summarized the new drug and eligibility language and walked the commission through three principal edits that had remained from the drafting process.

The changes shorten the period during which marijuana use disqualifies an applicant. The new text, as read into the record, states that “any applicant for the position of deputy…