A Commitment to Reform and Transparency: An open letter to the NAACP

Jim Walker's Commitment to Reforming the Richland County Sheriff's Department

Dear Neighbors,

I am pleased to share with you an open letter that I recently sent to the Columbia and Lower Richland Branches of the NAACP.

In my letter, I express my sincere gratitude for their invitation to participate in the upcoming candidate forums on May 6th and 9th. Additionally, I outline my commitments to the community. I invite you to read and engage with the contents of this letter, as it reflects my dedication to transparency and accountability as a candidate. I assure you that I will carry this same commitment to transparency if elected Sheriff.

Dear NAACP Leadership and Members,

Thank you sincerely for inviting me to participate in the upcoming candidate forums organized by both the Columbia and Lower Richland Branches of the NAACP.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to engage in discussions aimed at addressing the pressing public safety concerns of minorities and marginalized communities within Richland County.

It is with earnest sincerity that I write to you today, recognizing the rarity with which candidates from my party may engage with your esteemed organization and its membership. However, I am compelled to convey my commitment to lead in a manner that transcends partisan divides. With a background as a 30-year law enforcement veteran and former Richland County Deputy, I have had the privilege of serving, conversing, and aiding numerous members of our community. Throughout my career, amidst fulfilling my duties as a law enforcement officer, there is one question I have never deemed relevant: the political affiliation of those I serve.

I firmly believe that the role of sheriff should remain apolitical. Our duty lies not in partisan politics, but in the unwavering dedication to protecting and upholding the laws of our state and county. There should be no room for political agendas or biases in law enforcement. Therefore, while I proudly identify as a conservative and a member of the South Carolina Republican Party, I approach my candidacy with a commitment to campaign and if elected to serve in a nonpartisan manner. 

My decision to run for sheriff stems from a profound concern for the safety and well-being of our community. The surge in gun violence within Richland County is deeply troubling. Having worked alongside Sheriff Lott for 15 years, I have engaged in conversations, observed his leadership style, and spoken with fellow deputies. Many of them share similar apprehensions about the direction of the department.

I embark on this journey not merely due to qualifications, but also fueled by the experience and vision necessary to cultivate a more community-oriented department. I aim to usher in a new era of public safety and law enforcement strategies tailored to address our current challenges while fostering stronger bonds between the department and communities who have been historically underserved or overpoliced. 

Throughout my career as a Richland County deputy sheriff, I have had the privilege of patrolling many communities across the county. While the sheriff department has cultivated strong relationships with many communities across the county, there are communities where we have an array of challenges. These challenges necessitate a thorough reevaluation of our approach. This revised strategy must address historical grievances, acknowledge factual realities, confront economic disparities, and enhance the department’s cultural competency.

Listed below are several commitments I vow to fulfill if elected sheriff. These commitments are aimed at fostering better relationships and transparency between the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and minorities and other marginalized communities across our county.

My Commitments to Reform and Transparency 

Commitment 1: Reforming the Citizens’ Advisory Council

Recognizing the crucial role of community oversight in law enforcement, I am committed to reforming the department’s current Citizen’s Advisory Council. Presently, the council convenes only sporadically, typically at the Sheriff’s request. Members are appointed by the Sheriff and serve at his discretion, giving him total control over the council. This authoritarian structure lacks genuine accountability and transparency, and I am committed to changing it.

If elected Sheriff, I will work with the Richland County Council to grant them the authority to independently appoint council members, free from any influence from myself or any employees of the Sheriff’s Department. Members appointed to the Citizen’s Advisory Council should adhere to the same selection process as other County boards or commissions. To ensure true accountability and transparency, I will abstain from any and all involvement in council operations or membership selection.

Empowering the council’s chairman and members to convene meetings as needed for scrutiny of my actions or those of my deputies fosters genuine transparency and accountability. Richland County residents deserve unwavering assurance that the Sheriff’s Department operates transparently in its policies, procedures, and community interactions.

Commitment 2: Transparency in Officer-Involved Shootings

I pledge that in all cases of officer-involved shootings, the involved officers will promptly submit their body camera and dashboard camera footage to SLED at the scene of the incident or be accompanied by a SLED officer back to the department to surrender the footage. Alongside this change, I will also ensure that body camera footage is made available to the solicitor's office if needed, or to family members and attorneys of individuals involved in the shooting incident within 72 hours of the incident.

Commitment 3: Reform Charging Process Involving Juveniles

I am committed to reviewing and reforming the charging process for juveniles involved in fights or altercations at school and on school grounds. It's evident that a disproportionately large number of minority youth are being overcharged with felonies for simple incidents. We need to prioritize restorative justice practices over punitive measures. By closely examining this process, I am committed to implementing reforms that prevent our children from beginning their lives with charges on their records, hindering their future employment and educational opportunities. Addressing this issue is crucial for creating a more fair and equitable enforcement of the law.

Commitment 4: Addressing Hate Crimes on the Local Level

As someone with over 30 years of law enforcement experience, I am deeply troubled by the growing level of political discourse and vitriol highlighted in today's news headlines. Such rhetoric fans the flames of hate and intolerance, posing a threat to all citizens, especially African American, Jewish, Asian, and LGBTQ communities historically targeted by hate-inspired crimes.

As a candidate for Sheriff, I acknowledge that the absence of a hate crime bill in South Carolina leaves these communities particularly vulnerable. Therefore, I am dedicated to establishing a Hate Crimes Task Force within the Sheriff's Department. This task force will investigate hate crimes in the county and develop a comprehensive reporting system to share data with SLED. Through these efforts, we aim to lay the groundwork for potential future hate crime legislation in South Carolina.

Commitment 5: Equitable Enforcement of the Constitutional Carry Law. 

As a law enforcement officer, I am committed to enforcing the law regardless of its popularity among partisan groups. However, as a black father, I wholeheartedly understand the fear that minority communities feel concerning this bill. Having a son who will soon be of age to legally carry a firearm under this law, I equally share your concern.

Therefore, if elected as Sheriff, I am committed to establishing a task force to examine any incidents involving shootings, arrests, or complaints from citizens regarding their constitutional right to carry a firearm. This task force will work closely with the newly reformed Citizen Advisory Council to review these incidents and generate a report with recommendations on how to improve the enforcement of this law. Additionally, we will review policies and procedures to ensure they do not infringe upon anyone's right to constitutional carry, irrespective of age, gender, or race. It is imperative that all individuals who exercise this right are treated fairly and equally.

Commitment 6: Rehabilitation of Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center and the establishment of an Inmates Rights and Reform Commission and Task Force 

There has been an alarming number of deaths and employees arrested for various criminal activities at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center in Richland County. Additionally, the detention center is facing a federal lawsuit filed by a group advocating for the rights of people with disabilities. The lawsuit alleges that the detention center is overcrowded and understaffed. Inmates are reportedly subjected to brutal, inhumane, and unconstitutional conditions within the facility. Moreover, the U.S. Department of Justice has initiated a federal civil rights investigation into the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, citing violations of inmates' civil rights. Even more alarming is that the citizens who have died in the facility have been disproportionately people of color.

These concerning developments underscore the pressing need for greater transparency, accountability, and improvements in detention facilities to safeguard the well-being and rights of incarcerated citizens.

In response, I am committed to actively lobbying the Richland County Council to return management and operational control of the detention center to the Sheriff’s Department. By doing so, I will institute meaningful changes that prioritize the dignity and rights of all citizens within the facility. Additionally, I am dedicated to establishing an Inmates Rights and Reform Commission and Task Force. These entities will collaborate closely with the newly reformed Citizen’s Advisory Council to implement necessary reforms, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability within our detention facility.

In closing, I would like to reiterate my commitment to implementing policies and strategies aimed at improving relationships within historically underserved and marginalized communities, addressing past injustices, and creating a Sheriff’s Department that serves the citizens of Richland County in an accountable and transparent manner. If elected Sheriff, I would champion a new era of community-centric law enforcement focused on care and protection rather than mere policing.

Respectfully,

Jim Walker

Candidate for Richland County Sheriff

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If you would like to contact me to learn more about my campaign and platform, or if you would like to invite me to speak to your group or organization, I can be reached by phone at (803) 567-2329 or via email at jimwalkerforsheriff@gmail.com. Either myself or my campaign manager, Shamel Jones, will be in touch with you promptly.