By Natalie M. Zeigler
City Manager
A look at the major news stories of the past year is enough to remind anyone of the difficult but important role which law enforcement plays in our lives. Their performance, and even their individual actions, are always up for public discussion. Their successes rank as front-page news, as was the case last week when Hartsville Police, along with the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Marshals Service, captured a suspect wanted for attempted murder.
It’s obvious that we care very much about what they are doing, and if they are doing it right, and it’s all because of how much their work matters to everything else we do. The success of the Hartsville community hinges on its ability to be a safe place to live and a safe place to do business.
Those who follow the news are also no strangers to the idea that a police officer’s valuable work comes along with considerable personal risk. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund tells us that in 2014, 126 police officers in the United States died in the line of duty, an alarming increase over previous years.
The National Sheriff’s Association selected today, Jan. 9, as National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day as a time to show support for our law enforcement officers who leave their homes every day not knowing what dangers they may face before coming back.
Today also happens to be the day we say goodbye to the man who has led our Police Department since June 2011: Chief James Hudson. Hudson is headed back to the Darlington County Sheriff’s Office to accept a leadership position. Chief Deputy Jerry Thompson of the Sheriff’s Office will come in as Acting Chief, as he did before Hudson’s arrival. We’re certainly sad to see our Chief of three and a half years go, but the Hartsville Police and the Sheriff’s Office work very closely on countless cases, so it’s good to know that he isn’t going very far.
In his time with the City of Hartsville, Hudson maintained a tireless focus on building bridges around the community, even in the smallest ways. It wasn’t unusual to see Chief and his officers working to paint over graffiti or help refurbish the Boys & Girls Club of Hartsville at the Butler Campus. For several summers, the department organized a fundraiser to help get electric fans into the hands of vulnerable populations who needed them most.
The Hartsville Police Department has done much for the community in recent years, and will certainly continue to do so in the years to come. Their job is a hard one, but I am very grateful to have them doing it.
Natalie Zeigler is the City Manager of Hartsville. For more information, call City Hall at 843-383-3015 or email info2@hartsvillesc.gov.