YCSO: Behind the Badge

This week, we speak to three recent YCSO Citizens Academy graduates on their experiences during the 6-week program.

The YCSO Citizen's Advisory Board will be comprised of citizens of diverse backgrounds from our four geographic districts.  The purpose of creating this group is to strengthen the ties between our agency and the citizens we serve.  The role of the Citizens Advisory Board is to bring concerns from the community to command staff and offer suggestions about ways that we can better serve our community.  We tried to accomplish this same objective by holding community meetings in the four districts, but the low attendance at those meetings did not justify all of the work that went into hosting the meetings. 

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. It is a tough subject to talk about, but it’s a necessary one. Kerby McKinnell the Sexual Trauma Services Coordinator at Safe Passage in Rock Hill, and Capt. Mike Ligon of the Catawba Nation Tribal Police to discuss an upcoming training for those who work with victims of sexual assault. To learn more visit safepassagesc.org.

The YCSO 2023 annual report is out. Follow this link: https://www.yorkcountysheriff.com/DocumentCenter/View/2376/2023-Annual-Report - to read along as we discuss the report on this week's YCSO: Behind the Badge.

We open up the cold case file to discuss the oldest cold case and a new cold case Detective Lanelle Day is working on at the YCSO.

In this bonus episode of YCSO Behind the Badge, we talk about scams. More specifically, the types of scams where suspects impersonate real YCSO employees.

We discuss how to identify a scam and how to avoid becoming a victim.

This week, we talk with Sgt. Amy Smith of the YCSO Special Victims Unit (SVU) about the work that detectives do that's unlike what you may see portrayed on TV shows.

*Note: Apologies for the poor audio quality.

Lt. Kelly Lovelace is the supervisor of the YCSO office of professional standards. She and her team work hard each day to recruit and retain officers that can adhere to our core values of character, honesty, accountability, integrity, and most of all, respect.

Sgt. Michael Hewitt talks about our 7th detention officer hiring event, and how Sheriff Kevin Tolson is working diligently in 2024 to retain those officers we hire.

We talk with District Commander Lt. David Frye about his 39-year career. As part of his duties, Lt. Frye helps several non-profit organizations identify and locate homeless people in Rock Hill, and in turn, he and his deputies help those in need get the services available to them.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson talks about 2023 and what's coming in 2024.

For 14 years, Mel Thomas, in her off time and using donations, has purchased Christmas presents for the less fortunate children in York County. Listen to how you can help on this episode of YCSO Behind the Badge.

Corporal Atarsha Stinson has been a detention officer for just 18-months, her positive attitude has made an impact on inmates and her career advancement at the York County Sheriff's Office.

40 Bloodhounds and their police K9 handlers from Alabama, Indiana, Georgia, Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina converge on Kings Mountain State Park for the 24th Police Bloodhound Winter Training Seminar.

In this edition of Behind the Badge, we ride with four deputies who have been on the road as enforcement deputies for a little more than a year. We talk about their experiences and opportunities they've discovered since becoming part of the YCSO family.

At the beginning of the holiday traffic season, we talk with our traffic enforcement unit about safety tips and the new Carolina Squat Law that just passed.

If it wasn't for the hard working people in the Evidence Control Unit to catalog and maintain crime evidence, our detectives and investigators wouldn’t be able to follow up and then solve any case, more or less get them to court in front of a jury.

In 1992, an infant girl was found inside a plastic Sears shopping bag floating in the Catawba River between Fort Mill and Rock Hill. For 29 years, leads on the case ran cold until science caught up to help bring closure to the murder of Baby Angel Hope.

For 16 years, the Sheriff's Foundation of York County has hosted a golf tournament at Springfield Golf Club in Fort Mill as the main fundraising endeavor for student scholarships, the Mike Doty officer assistance fund, and other student law enforcement career programs.

This year, we thank Smart Communications and Founders Federal Credit Union for being our presenting sponsors.

This podcast was recorded at the tournament.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson introduces the new Director of Employee Wellness, Dr. Nikki Vasilas and the important role she has within the sheriff's office.

Catching you up on the highlights during the month of May here at the YCSO.

The days of January 16 and 17 changed the lives of many law enforcement officers in York County forever, but not more than Buddy Brown and Randy Clinton. On this episode we catch up with Brown and Clinton 5-years later.

In late 2021 Sheriff Kevin Tolson wanted to make a focus on building and maintaining positive relationships with members of our community. He created a new position of Community Relations Liaison. On this edition of Behind the Badge we meet Community Relations Officer Cpl. Johnathan Gilbert. #YCSONews 

Thanksgiving traffic safety with Sgt. Ryan Quinn of the YCSO Traffic Enforcement Unit. 

On this edition of YCSO Behind the Badge we talk with YCSO Chief Jail Administrator John Hicks about a new program to hire good people to become great detention officers.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson discusses topics ranging from medical marijuana bill, the fentanyl crisis, and hiring great officers. 

On this edition of YCSO Behind the Badge - We are sharing a recent Crime to Court episode which features Sheriff Kevin Tolson, Sheriff Mark Lamb from Pinal County Arizona and South Carolina SLED Chief Mark Keel. The discussion is on SC Senate Bill 150 on medical marijuana 

Tis the season to go stealin'.  December is prime time for criminals to become real life Grinches. This week on the podcast we talk to our Property Crimes Unit about how crime prevention begins with you.

Major Robbie Hudgins Retires after 40 years of service.

On this episode we talk about the scary trend of drug dealers pressing pills with fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine, and other narcotics in the shapes of popular logos, cartoon characters and even Santa Claus. Our YCSO Drug Chemists help us identify these dangerous pill that could be mistaken by kids as just sugar candies.

On October 30, 2005 two hunters scouting a place to hunt off Pleasant Road and Vista Road in Fort Mill discovered the skeletal remains of a person buried in shallow grave. The person was deliberately covered with tree branches and had been there about a year. Forensic examination found that the person was a Hispanic man possibly from Guatemala. He had defensive cuts on the arm, and neck area. Sixteen years later YCSO detectives are still trying to solve this cold case.  

For the 15th year the Sheriff's Foundation of York County held a fundraising golf tournament. Since 2007 $220,000 worth of scholarships have been given to York County students thanks to sponsors and player participation. The presenting sponsor for this year's tournament is Founders Federal Credit Union.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. On average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. On this Behind the Badge we talk with Victim Advocate Tina Marsh on how victims of domestic violence can break the cycle of violence. 

From October 2007 to February 2008 a string of harrowing armed robberies and shootings took place in York County. 14 years ago this month a crime spree began in York County that would put most everyone on edge.  Phillip Watts would rob stores all the while shoot two clerks and two customers after they complied with his demands. Watts was finally arrested at a Rock Hill apartment off Riverview Road on Feb. 18 after a DNA match identified him. To go into detail of this case more in depth Sheriff Kevin Tolson and Solicitor Kevin Brackett to join us this week on the podcast to talk about the crimes and what it was like to prosecute this case.

Horses were the first patrol car for all law enforcement officers until the invention of the automobile. Today horses are still an effective tool for policing and community relations. 

There are three IT gurus at the YCSO that specialize in maintaining all computers, software, in and out of patrol cars, and basically anything electronic at the YCSO. On this Behind the Badge we talk about the huge job is it to juggle it all.

The York County Sheriff's Office has served the citizens of York County since 1786.  On this Behind the Badge we briefly go over the 235 year history.

When civil unrest causes danger to life and property the YCSO Mobile Field Force Team is there to stand the line to protect protesters and property owners.

The summer boating season is winding down, but that doesn’t mean that the YCSO Lake Patrol and Dive team also stand down for the season.

Founded in 2015, Serve & Connect is a South Carolina nonprofit working directly with law enforcement, community stakeholders, and citizen leaders, we aspire to improve neighborhoods challenged by poverty, crime, and neglect by building trust, optimizing collaboration, and fostering a shared sense of pride.

The YCSO partners with S&C with the Greg's Groceries program.

Each month six teams with the York County Alcohol Enforcement Team (AET) work to make sure businesses in York County are not selling alcohol to those underage. 

On August 16, 2021 York County schools will be back in session. On this behind the badge we talk with two YCSO School Resource Officers about what parents and students need to know about the first day and the school year.

The old saying "liar liar pants on fire" doesn't work in the real world of polygraphs at the YCSO.

In law enforcement it can be argued that 99% of all cases begin with a call to 911. On this edition of Behind the Badge we talk with a 911 dispatcher about the world of public safety communications. 

When it comes to prosecuting driving under the influence cases the 16th Circuit Solicitors Office's Attorney Matt Shelton and his team are the best at it, and Shelton has the national award to prove it. 

The forensic chemistry laboratory performs analyses of drugs, including controlled substances, pharmaceuticals and clandestine laboratory samples. Chemists in the section analyze evidence items and conclusively identify a controlled substance or perform sufficient analysis to determine that no controlled substances are present.

Eyes in the sky. The YCSO UAV Team assists in missing people to SWAT and K9 searches. All to keep officers safe.