1/17/08
Round Four?
Josey to seek fourth term as county’s sheriff
By Cathy Gilbert

To fulfill his 1996 pledge to voters that he would seek five terms, Sheriff Keith Josey announced last week that he would throw his hat in the ring for a fourth term as the Clarendon County sheriff.

“At a stump meeting in Summerton in 1996 I told the audience that I did not want to break the record of Jehu Jackson of 28 years, but that I did want five terms and to make a difference,” Josey said last week.

Josey, 57, has had more than 30 years in law enforcement. His career began in 1977 as an officer with the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources (now known as Dept. of Natural Resources). He became a City of Manning officer in 1979 and rose to the rank of Chief of Police in 1982.

“To date, I am the longest serving chief in Manning with 14 years,” he said.

Josey ran for Sheriff in 1996 and has held that position since that time.

Of his accomplishments in office, Josey cites the construction of the current law enforcement center, increasing the number of officers on patrol from three to five, increasing investigators from four to six and increasing narcotics officers from one to two. The Sheriff’s Department has School Resource Officers in all three public school districts.

“All of that was made possible with the help of the County Council,” Josey added.

Josey said he believes in county law enforcement being available 24 hours a day.

“I am a man you can talk to, a man who will listen, a working sheriff. My offices are located at the T.J. Jackson Law Enforcement Center, the Clarendon County Courthouse, my home on Old Georgetown Road, my sheriff’s vehicle, your home or your business, if you so desire,” he said. “I am reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling my office at 435-4414, my home at 435-8146 or my cell at 460-8859.”

Josey cites the rise of gang violence as one of his major concerns for Clarendon County.

“We are extremely vigilant for gang signs and activities,” he said. “If we spot signs of that type of activity, we will photograph it and send it to who ever we need to understand what is going on.”

Josey said that sadly, crime is on the rise in Clarendon County.

“We are in hard economic times,” he said. “An honest man will steal a loaf of bread to feed his family.”

Josey is a native of Manning and a graduate of Manning High School. He attended Clemson University before returning to Manning to assist with the family business. He is the son of the late L. Keith Josey Sr. and Noodie Coffey Josey. He has been married for 39 years to the former Dorothy “Dot” Hulsey, also a native of Manning. The couple has three children and four grandchildren and are of the Presbyterian faith.