York County Sheriff's Office Quarterly Newsletter

Issue #2 - DATE: March 1, 2018 - News events from November 2017 to February 2018

Sheriff Kevin Tolson with Deputies saluting Det. Mike Doty

From the desk of Sheriff Kevin Tolson

Our agency recently suffered a great and wounding tragedy when four officers were injured, one of them fatally. It truly was the “worst case scenario”. Throughout the days that followed, I witnessed countless acts of selflessness, courage, and comradery.

The York County Sheriff’s Office truly is a family and we exhibited what a family does when it suffers – they come together. I also witnessed another inspiring event during the last several weeks. The community rallied behind its law enforcement to send the message that they stand with us, behind us, all in effort to remind us that what happened to those officers is not ok. The outpouring of compassion and support was overwhelming and the employees at the York County Sheriff’s Office recognize and appreciate your kind thoughts, gestures, and prayers. It has truly helped to ease some of the pain that we have experienced.

I can say with certainty that the York County Sheriff’s Office may be wounded, but it certainly is not weak. Thank you all for your continued prayers while we begin to recover from this horrific adversity.

God Bless,
Kevin R. Tolson
Sheriff, York County
.

Det. Mike Doty staff photograph

Detective Mike Doty,
EOW Jan. 17, 2018

On January 17^th, 2018, Detective Mike Doty succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained the previous morning while searching for a subject who ambushed & shot a York County Sheriff's K9 handler earlier in the night.

On Jan. 16^th, Det. Doty, who was a member of the YCSO SWAT team, responded to the scene to continue searching for the suspect near the 1400 block of South Parham Rd.

The suspect setup a second ambush, wounding Detective Doty & two other members of the SWAT team before being shot & wounded.

Detective Doty was 37-years-old & served with the York County Sheriff's Office for 12 years. Detective Doty began working at the York County Sheriff’s Office on May 22, 2006. Detective Doty was an investigator with the York County Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Enforcement Unit. Detective Doty was the Law Enforcement Officer Narcan (LEON) Program coordinator for the Sheriff’s Office. He was also a member of the YCSO SWAT Entry Team, as well as an Associate Advisor for the York County Explorer Post 1786.

.

Det. Mike Doty participating in the 2017 Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics

Det. Mike Doty was an advisor with YCSO Explorer Post 1786.

Det. Mike Doty with Deputy Michael Robinson & Sgt. Lee Stoneburner. Det. Doty was an advisor to YCSO Explorer Post 1786. Dep. Robinson was the first YCSO Explorer to become a Full-Time Deputy with the York County Sheriff's Office

Det. Mike Doty member of the SWAT Team, Entry Team

Winthrop Coach Pat Kelsey, Sgt. Kyle Cummings, Sgt. Clinton, Sgt. Brown, and Sgt. Chris Doty Mike Doty's Twin brother take a photo before the Feb 18th Winthrop Men's Basketball game.

How's everyone doing?

- York PD Sgt. Kyle Cummings, who is a member of the York County Forensic Services Unit, has returned to work.

- Sgt. Buddy Brown is still recovering at home attending Physical Therapy in hopes to hoping to return to duty soon.

- Sgt. Randy Clinton is recovering at home attending physical therapy hoping to return to the K9 Unit soon.

Chris, Randy, Buddy & Kyle in the Winthrop basketball locker room before the game.

Gabby the Bloodhound

During the incident on January 15th & 16th, Sgt. Randy Clinton was tracking the suspect with his Bloodhound Gabby when he was wounded.

There have been many inquiries about Gabby's condition. The YCSO K9 Unit is happy to say Gabby was not injured during the shooting. While Sgt. Clinton is recovering, Gabby is still actively training with the K9 Response Unit and is waiting for Sgt. Clinton to return to work.

Bloodhound Gabby walking towards the camera

THANK YOU!

The YCSO Family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring from the York County community. Below are just a few examples of the show of support from businesses, schools and children for our Deputies.

Harbor Chase Assisted Living Donated dozens of stuffed animals to in turn give to those children we encounter during our investigations.

Deputies standing next to boxes of donated snacks and drinks.

Mt. Holly Elementary School donated boxes full of snacks, and drinks for our Deputies.

Check donation by Sweet Tea Boutique in York

Sweet Tea York SC raised more than $13,200 from T-Shirt sales benefiting Det. Mike Doty's family & our injured Deputies.

Dep. Tonya Jones with the Castle Heights Middle School Knight Mascot, showing support.

Lt. David Frye with employees from Carolina Academy Child Development bringing snacks and Drinks for our Deputies.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson with 7-year-old Mia Kramer. In lieu of presents for her birthday, Mia decided to collect donations $1,200 for our injured officers and the family of Det. Mike Doty.

Graphic for the 9PM Routine with emojis of a lock, car & house

What's the #9PMRoutine?

If you follow the York County Sheriff's Office on the available social media platforms, you may have seen posts with the hashtag #9PMRoutine. The crime prevention idea is not a YCSO original idea. The #9PMRoutine was created by the Pasco Sheriff's Office in Florida.

Since August 2017, the Pasco County Sheriff's Office took to Twitter and Facebook every night for the 9 PM Routine, sending posts that remind people to lock their homes and cars before they go to bed. The goal: cutting down on easily preventable burglaries.
The simple hashtag idea has grown beyond Florida residents. Law enforcement agencies around the country have joined the movement, including Richland County Sheriff’s Department in Columbia.

Unlocked car burglaries are a constant issue for law enforcement agencies. In 2017 the YCSO responded to 591 car break-ins with 410 out of those were ‘no forced entry’ meaning the vehicle was most likely left unlocked. So far in January of 2018, Deputies have investigated 45 car break-ins out of those 30 had 'no forced entry'.

Also, the YCSO takes the opportunity to not only remind citizens to lock their cars at night before bed but also, bring valuables indoors you might leave outside in your car such as; laptops, wallets, purses, money and other electronics. In addition, take the time to check if garages are closed, outbuildings are locked, and utility trailers are locked and made difficult for thieves to steal.

Crime Prevention begins with you. However, with the increased stress and distractions everyone faces during the day, we understand forgetting to simply lock your car at night is easy to do, so for a friendly reminder to prevent criminals from gaining access to your unlocked car at night follow the YCSO on Facebook and/or Twitter we can help.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson speaking to those who attended the Houses of Worship Safety Seminar

FREE Houses of Worship Site Security Assessments

On November 5, 2017, a 26-year-old gunman entered the First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs Texas killed 26 and injured 20 others.

In response to increased inquiries about safety concerns at various houses of worship in York County, the York County Sheriff’s Office hosted a Houses of Worship Safety Seminar on February 10. Topics discussed were; Response to an Active Shooter scenario, Safety and Preparedness Programs offered by the York County Sheriff’s Office, and a question and answer time.

The York County Sheriff’s Office now offers churches asks those who wish their church, mosque, temple to have a free site security assessment to request one via the Sheriff’s Office Website - http://www.yorkcountysheriff.com/CrimePrevention

York County Sheriff’s Office awarded Accreditation with Excellence for the second time.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson is excited to announce the York County Sheriff’s Office has been awarded Accreditation with Excellence from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc., (CALEA). This is the second time the York County Sheriff’s Office has received this prestigious designation.

On November 18th, 2017, Sheriff Tolson and Accreditation Manager Lt. Kevin Jones appeared before the CALEA Commission Board in Jacksonville Florida and were told that the York County Sheriff’s Office had earned the highest accreditation award given to law enforcement agencies by CALEA.

“I'm very proud of this award and proud of all of the men and women at the Sheriff’s Office who work to adhere and hold themselves to the high standards that this award requires,” said Sheriff Tolson.

The York County Sheriff’s Office first earned Law Enforcement Accreditation through CALEA in 2008. This accreditation status is subject to review on a three-year cycle and 2017 was the York County Sheriff’s Office’s fourth review. This intensive process consists of inspecting files, conducting inspections, and interviewing Sheriff’s Office personnel on policy and procedures.

CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations in an effort to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioner. Additional information regarding CALEA can be found at www.calea.org.

Group photo of the 2017 class of Bloodhound Handlers

2017 Bloodhound Handlers Winter Training Seminar

Bloodhound K9 Training

During the week of December 3rd – 7th, 2017 the York County Sheriff’s Office hosted its 19th annual Police Bloodhound Handlers Winter Seminar at the Kings Mountain State Park located near Clover, South Carolina.

More than 20 different agencies were in attendance for the training from across North and South Carolina, as well as K-9 handlers from Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.

The training seminar is structured for beginner to advanced tracking bloodhounds. Throughout the week, training was conducted in wooded, residential and town areas mainly on the western side of York County. The seminar will conclude Thursday, December 7th, 2017.

Graphic Top 10 Wanted with a finger print

YCSO Top 10 Wanted

A new feature on YCSO Website is a Top 10 Wanted list. You can access the list via - www.yorkcountysheriff.com/wanted.

If you know where any of these suspects can be located call Crime Stoppers of York County 1-877-409-4321 or they can easily turn themselves in at the Moss Justice Center 1675-2A York Hwy. York, SC 29745.