Civil service rep says rules overhaul and hiring changes aim to ease deputy recruitment

Scott Wilson, the county's representative to the deputy sheriff civil service commission, told the Berkeley County Commission that the commission has undertaken an 18-month overhaul of rules and regulations to improve hiring and promotion procedures for deputy sheriffs.

"The support we have now is absolutely phenomenal," Wilson said, describing coordination with the sheriff's office, the county clerk's office and commission staff in reworking procedures. He said the commission implemented revised rules on June 18 and has already issued about 10 addenda to fix wording and procedural gaps.

Wilson said the commission recently instituted a new hiring process and that the state's current personnel rules can be "antiquated," adding that the changes are intended to help the county attract and promote qualified deputies. "It takes a lot of ingenuity at times," he said of working within state law.

Commissioners discussed taking the issue to state lawmakers. One commissioner said it may be worth organizing a legislative workshop or summit in Charleston to press for statutory updates and to bring the Tri-County civil service commissions together for discussion.

Wilson proposed a local summit for civil service officials and county clerks later this year to compare practices and to explore whether state-level statutory changes are needed. He said the commission is consulting legal counsel on rule language to avoid future litigation and to streamline hiring and promotions.

Why it matters: Commissioners and county staff described deputies as among the most difficult positions to fill and said recruiting and promotion barriers can hamper public safety staffing as the county grows. Wilson said the steps taken locally seek to balance legal protections with more practical hiring procedures.

Next steps: Commissioners encouraged follow-up with state legislators and the sheriff's association to pursue broader statutory reforms while continuing local rule refinements.