Press Releases

This office will continue to serve and protect the people of Florence County while mitigating the potential exposure to and transmission of the coronavirus. The purpose of this letter is to inform the public and our local law enforcement partners of the common-sense policing approach which we will observe as we monitor this public health crisis.

Our citizens should continue to call 911 for emergencies. To reduce the spread and exposure to our deputies, when appropriate, the deputy may ask you to simply step outside your home while providing information. In addition, we may attempt to respond to a non-emergency call by telephone where possible. This will not apply to any emergency calls where immediate contact may be necessary.

To our local law enforcement partners, we request that you exercise judgment and discretion when considering the arrest of suspects. Unless a custodial arrest cannot be avoided, for the protection of the detention center staff and inmates, we suggest and encourage the use of citations for most non-violent offenses.

Inmates currently booked into our detention center are screened by our medical staff for symptoms of Covid-19 and the facility is following a disinfectant regime for inmates and staff which includes, among other things, routine hand sanitizing. All inmate visitation is by way of video teleconference with the exception of attorneys and their clients.

We will continue to stay in touch with our citizens as well as our state and federal partners as we work through this situation and will adjust our actions as necessary to protect our citizens and our staff. We appreciate your cooperation and support as we move forward to a return of normalcy soon.

Sincerely, William C. Barnes Sheriff of Florence County