OC Sheriff’s Office announces graduation of Two Deputies from the SC Criminal Justice Academy

The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office is announcing today the graduation of Deputy Scott Spence and Deputy David Williams from the Basic Law Enforcement program at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Spence and Williams, who graduated from the Academy on March 24, as part of Basic Law Enforcement Class #661, were both hired by the Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 12, 2016. Spence graduated from Wren High School in 2012 and attended Anderson University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice upon his graduation. Spence has been assigned to Alpha Shift with the Uniform Patrol Division. Williams is a 2010 graduate of West-Oak High School and was employed previously with the Anderson County Detention Center. Williams also has served the past six years in the National Guard. Williams has been assigned to the Bravo Shift with the Uniform Patrol Division. Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw was the commencement speaker at the graduation ceremony last Friday and was introduced to the graduates and those in attendance by Jackie Swindler, Director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. In remarks made to the graduates and those in attendance, Sheriff Crenshaw said that this is the best time to be a law enforcement officer and encouraged the graduates to become exceptional officers. “Does having an exceptional Criminal Justice Academy make you an exceptional police officer, deputy sheriff or agent of the law? The answer is no,” remarked Sheriff Crenshaw. “You leave here today with a choice to remain a basic law enforcement officer or you can strive to be an exceptional law enforcement officer. The citizens in South Carolina and across our nation want exceptional officers,” continued Sheriff Crenshaw. “I have told my staff that I believe now is the greatest time to be in this profession. We have an opportunity before us to show others that we do things the right way. It is important that our state as a whole does things the right way. South Carolina has a track record of doing things the right way. There was a time when what took place on the coast did not affect the upstate. That is no longer the case. You may have a different patch on your sleeve but the oath we have taken is the same for all of us.” Sheriff Crenshaw also shared four things that he felt would help the graduates becomes exceptional law enforcement officers: establish relationships with the citizens in your jurisdiction, be fair and equal with everyone, have compassion and be trustworthy.