Platform | Mike Crenshaw for Oconee Sheriff

Committed To Serving and Protecting Our County for the Past Seven Years with Proven Leadership

Since 2013 Sheriff Crenshaw:

Increased the focus on domestic violence that resulted in a partnership with Safe Harbor and citizens donating funds to acquire a domestic violence shelter in Oconee County. Prevention and intervention classes began in our public schools. Safe Harbor began operations in our county. Reported Domestic Violence cases decreased.
Since 2013, violent crime has decreased from 55.8 crimes for every 10,000 citizens to 26.3 crimes every 10,000 citizens. In 2018 which is the most recent year reported by SLED, Oconee County was the 2nd safest county in the state in relation to violent crime.
Believes in keeping the pressure on drug dealers. Narcotics Agents have conducted 28 drug round-ups since being elected as a part of our Operation Infinity. Agents have made close to 2,000 drug related cases that resulted close to 1,000 drug related arrests. More than 5 million dollars in illegal drugs has been seized and taken off the streets.
Created a Citizens Police Academy with six graduated classes so far and continuing forward with one class per year.
Has focused on leadership development for staff members. The training unit is now called the LEAD Unit. (Leadership, Education, And Development.)
Has used inmate labor to handle the pickup of trash and litter around Oconee County with over 97,000 lbs. picked up to date.
Purchased body cameras for all of the uniformed patrol division with continued expansion to other units as state funding becomes available. Being proactive and beginning this prior to the state law being passed making it mandatory.
Believes in partnerships with the community and including organizations such as Safe Harbor, Keep Oconee Beautiful Association, Domestic Abuse Counseling, NAACP, SC Vocational Rehabilitation, and Foothills Alliance.
In partnership with the school district created the first elementary school drug prevention and mentoring program in the county. The first elementary school resource officer began working throughout the county. The Sheriff’s Office added two new elementary school resource officers in 2016 with the support of the Oconee County School Board. This provided additional security and mentoring for the students in our county. Further expansion has led to now having a school resource officer at every public school in our county.
Believes in community involvement with programs such as “Coffee with a Cop” program where citizens can interact with local law enforcement along with meeting citizen groups throughout the county.
The Sheriff’s Office adopted a two mile section of Highway 11 to pick up litter as part of the Palmetto Pride Highway Adoption program.
In partnership with the County moved forward with the much needed construction of a new jail. The Detention Center officially opened on January 29th, 2016.
Asked for approval from County Council for Christ Central Ministries to begin a pilot program in the now old Oconee County Detention Center. This program will offer drug and alcohol treatment for addiction, a free GED program, transitional housing when someone gets out of jail, etc.
Working with the Oconee County Council, increased starting and overall pay for deputies to allow for competitive salaries.
Acquired a three year grant from the Department of Justice to fund a child/elder abuse investigator’s position along with a narcotics investigator.
Has equipped most of the uniform patrol vehicles with Automated External Defibrillator’s (AED’s) in an effort to provide life saving measures in many instances where the deputies are the first to arrive on a scene, tourniquets to stop bleeding along with a nasal prescription spray to reverse an opioid overdose is now part of the deputies’ equipment. Lives have been saved by deputies.
Started a leadership/mentoring camp for boys that is held after school is out for the summer to continue building relationships with our youth and training leaders for the future. In 2019, an empowerment summer camp was started for girls that is being expanded this year to teach character and self-confidence.
Started an initiative to conduct active shooter training at churches and businesses to teach church members and employees’ actions to take in order to save lives.
Started an annual law enforcement retiree luncheon that is held in May to coincide with Police Memorial Week to honor those that have served in the profession.
The Sheriff’s Office began the TELL Kobie, who is the mascot for the Keep Oconee Beautiful Association, initiative in 2016 to bring awareness to the litter problem in our county and to give citizens an anonymous way to report litter locations. TELL stands for Together Eliminate Litter Locations. A link can be found at oconeelaw.com.
With the support of county council added two full time deputies that are assigned to our marine unit to increase law enforcement’s presence on lake’s Keowee, Hartwell, and Jocassee. Two new patrol boats were also acquired through the state.
Believes in protecting our senior citizens. Monthly scam alerts are released to prevent our citizens from becoming a victim.
In partnership with Oconee County Solid Waste, the Oconee School District, Oconee Economic Alliance, and Keep Oconee Beautiful Association began an annual Great Oconee Clean-up initiative to further address litter.
Believes in using new technology to keep you safe. The Smart 911 which is a program where citizens can enter important information such as animals or senior citizens in a home in the event of emergencies such as fire or EMS. First responders have this information when responding to a scene.
Pursuit Alert is another new technology that serves as a warning system to citizens if they are within two miles of a police pursuit. Oconee County Sheriff’s Office became the first agency in the world to have this technology.
Has a Sheriff’s Office App that is free to all citizens to receive important alerts and news releases.
Introduced new technology in the form of a UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) with infrared heat sensing capability to assist in the search of missing persons and wanted subjects.
Has increased the visible law enforcement presence in the county by adding three substations with the fourth scheduled to come online this year. This will bring our total to five substations in Long Creek, Oakway, Salem, Utica, and one on the grounds at Oconee Memorial Hospital.
Has added paramedics along with an emergency physician to the SWAT team increasing officer and citizen safety.
Started a yearly Halloween event called “Boo with the Blue at the Sheriff’s Office Drive-Thru.” This event gives children and parents a safe location to trick or treat while giving law enforcement another opportunity to build relationships with our citizens.
Started a foundation which is a 501 (C) (3) non-profit to provide scholarships to employees furthering their education along with essential equipment not normally funded through the budget. Last year, the Foundation purchased a new explosive K-9. Students participated in a contest to name the new officer. Thor was selected and sworn in as our newest member of the K-9 unit.
Began the Life After Lockup initiative where inmates getting out of prison go to work and become law abiding citizens.

Initiatives for 2020

Build a partnership with Upstate Warrior Solutions to help with Veterans that may get arrested as well as those we interact with that do not end up in jail.
Began teaching the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program in our schools through our school resource officers.
Continue building upon the successes of the past seven years along with increasing our efficiency and effectiveness.
Continue focusing on prevention education in relation to drug addiction, enforcement arrests of low level and high level conspiracy drug cases, and promoting drug addiction treatment programs.