Bill Rhyne was officially sworn into office as Sheriff of Spartanburg County this morning at the County Courthouse.
The ceremony follows Rhyne’s election in the primary runoff back in August. Several members of the community and Rhyne’s family gathered in the crowded courtroom for the event.
“One of the things that I have been absolutely committed to is we are going to change the culture at that agency,” Rhyne said to the crowd. “I have a very clear vision of what the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office should be. It is to be the best agency and be the flag bearer for every agency in the state of South Carolina. And we will stop at nothing to ensure that we get to that point.”
Rhyne also swore in the members of his Command Staff at the ceremony. This is the team that works most closely with the Sheriff as he assumes office. This year, there was a historic first — Spartanburg County’s first female command staff member.
“It feels surreal, just understanding the gravity of the position,” said Michelle Johnson, who will be the Administrative Captain. “Anytime [I’m] in leadership, I never take it lightly. And [in] my last couple of years of being in law enforcement, I want to really leave my legacy and my influence and everything here in my hometown.”
Sheriff Rhyne shakes the hand of Michelle Johnson, Spartanburg County’s first female command staff member.
The following individuals are all of the command staff members for Rhyne’s administration:
Chief Kevin Powers, Operations Chief
Chief Deputy Bobby Welborn, Admin Chief
Captain Tim Metz, Uniform Patrol
Captain Philip Wilkie, Investigations
Capt. Robert Cheeks, Special Operations
Capt. Michelle Johnson, Administration
Capt. JT Howland, School Resource Officers
Maj. Chris Leso, Detention Center Director
Capt. Randy Hollifield, Jail Special Operations
Capt. Clifford Hayes, Jail Daily Operations
Neal Urch, Budget and Finance
Rhyne emphasized his confidence in his team as he takes office, noting that he wanted a strong foundation to work with as the office works to rebuild trust in the community.
The election of Rhyne occurred during a special election, a result of former Sheriff Chuck Wright’s resignation in May. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, Wright pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit theft concerning programs receiving federal funds in October.
Rhyne says that he hopes to rebuild trust in the Sheriff’s Office by being as transparent as possible regarding the office’s finances. Part of this includes the creation of a new position, a budget and finance director, who will manage the department’s budget and make it publicly available on a quarterly basis.
“The healing started on the 19th when we won the runoff, but the healing is going to continue [and] we’re going to restore the faith in this office 100%,” said Rhyne. “We’re going to serve you with integrity. We’re going to serve you with transparency. We’re gonna serve you with fiscal responsibility, and we’re going to give you a Sheriff’s Office that you’re going to be proud of for years to come.”
For more information on the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office, visit their website.
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