Sumter County sheriff reports 66,175 calls last year and urges study of local juvenile detention center

Sheriff Anthony Dennis presented the Sumter County Sheriff's annual report at the council meeting on Jan. 27, 2026, reporting that the department had responded to 66,175 calls for service in the prior year and had a 100% clearance rate on homicides and missing-person investigations.

Dennis expressed concern about the rising cost of detaining juveniles out of county in Columbia and proposed that a local or regional juvenile detention center could be a more cost-effective solution for taxpayers. The minutes record the proposal as a point for consideration; no formal motion to study or fund such a facility was recorded.

During public comment Jackie Hughes spoke in support of the sheriff's suggestion, saying a local detention option could save money and keep youth closer to family. There was no council vote or directive recorded in the minutes to pursue a facility study or construction during this meeting.

The sheriff's report also highlighted department performance metrics included in the minutes but did not include a proposed budget figure for a local detention center.