Berkeley County commission sets May 30 for deputy-sheriff promotional exams; asks sheriff to name employees needing makeup tests

BERKELEY COUNTY, May 8, 2025 — The Berkeley County Deputy Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission voted May 8 to schedule promotional examinations for captain, lieutenant, sergeant and corporal for May 30 at 9 a.m.

The vote came during a special meeting called to set testing dates after the sheriff’s office requested earlier examinations. Commissioners also directed the sheriff’s office to submit a written list identifying any employees who cannot attend the May 30 primary test because of mandatory duty — such as required training or court-ordered assignments — so the commission can set alternate makeup dates for those individuals.

Why it matters: The tests determine placement on promotion lists used by the sheriff’s office; scheduling affects when eligible deputies can advance and when the department can fill leadership vacancies. Commissioners discussed statutory public-notice requirements and commission rules that permit alternate dates only for mandatory duties, not for vacations.

Commission members opened the meeting with three candidate dates proposed by sheriff’s office staff. After a motion and second, the commission approved May 30 at 9 a.m. as the primary testing date. A commission member called for a letter from the sheriff identifying employees with “mandatory training” who cannot attend; commissioners agreed that vacations do not qualify for alternate dates.

Captain Trent Heckman, speaking in his capacity as a captain with the sheriff’s office, urged the commission to avoid excluding deputies who had been directed to mandatory trainings: “I just don’t want to see individuals that are at directed participation not able to participate,” he said.

Commission staff noted a statutory requirement for two weeks’ public notice before administering the exams and the county legal office’s practice of posting notices in the county journal. Commission staff read the commission’s rules aloud, which say the commission “may, at the discretion of the civil service commission, have a different date set for examination” when a deputy is unavailable because of mandatory duty and when a letter from the sheriff explains the circumstances.

The commission and sheriff’s office discussed logistics and test integrity. Department staff estimated roughly 10 employees might need makeup testing; commissioners expressed a preference for using the same version of the test where possible and to check with the Division of Personnel about retaining or ordering test booklets for secondary dates. Officers and staff noted that the test bank uses A and B versions with the same 84 questions rearranged.

Next steps: The commission set May 30 as the primary testing date. The sheriff’s office agreed to provide a list by the close of business the next day identifying employees who must be excused for mandatory duties; the commission will then set alternate makeup dates for those employees and coordinate with the Division of Personnel about test copies and scheduling. Commissioners reiterated that vacation is not an acceptable basis for excusal and that letters from the sheriff must document mandatory duties.

The special meeting lasted about 38 minutes and concluded after setting the date and outlining follow-up items.