As a lieutenant, if someone is killed or shot, I go out to the crime scene to make sure the investigation is done correctly. On the scene, I decide whether or not to call the investigations or forensics divisions to the scene to do things such as talk with witnesses or gather evidence to prepare the case for court. My time in the office is spent approving reports and assigning deputies to certain zones to patrol.

The Anderson County Sheriff's Office is different from the City of Anderson Police Department in that the Sheriff's Office is responsible for patrolling the entire county from Belton to Iva to Pendleton and everything in between; the zones I assign deputies to patrol are divided up like Anderson County's school districts. I also handle complaints from citizens.

Today, I work first shift, arriving at 8:00 a.m. and working until 4:00 p.m., but work shifts in law enforcement run around the clock. Usually, new hires like to work second shift which is from 4:00 p.m. until midnight because that's when a lot of crime takes place. Third shift runs from midnight until 8:00 a.m., and I spent three long years working that shift.

The schedule can be rough, but we have great job security--unfortunately, people are always going to commit crimes. When I started at the Sheriff's Office, we worked seven-day swing shifts, but now we work fixed shifts with four days on and two days off.