South Carolina – A deputy in Spartanburg County lost his job just hours after posting a racially offensive message on social media while on duty. This was one of the first major disciplinary procedures taken by newly sworn-in Sheriff Bill Rhyne. The sheriff made the decision quickly, showing that he is dedicated to restoring public faith and accountability in an organization still working to recover from recent scandals.
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The Sheriff’s Office says that the incident happened in late November. The deputy, who is White and had worked for the agency for five years, snapped a picture of himself in his patrol car wearing his complete uniform, badge, and a balaclava. The picture was shared with the words “To find a YN, you must be a YN,” a phrase widely recognized as shorthand for a derogatory slur targeting young Black people.
The next morning, supervisors found out about the post. First Lt. Nikki Creal told Capt. Tim Metz, who subsequently told Sheriff Rhyne. Within hours, the command staff looked over the matter, called the deputy into the office, and told him how severe his actions were before firing him. Rhyne stressed that the post broke clear rules that say deputies can’t post racist content or engaging in behavior that discredits themselves or the department.
“I was really taken back by it when I saw it,” Rhyne said during a press conference. “That kind of stuff will absolutely not be tolerated under any circumstances at this agency under my leadership. What we do in uniform reflects on every man and woman who serves here and across the state.”
Rhyne, who entered office on November 7 after running on a platform of openness and internal reform, said that the firing was part of his larger promise to uphold high standards. He said that the agency needs to work differently than it did in the past, when former Sheriff Chuck Wright stepped down during an FBI investigation and later admitted to federal charges.
“That kind of stuff will absolutely not be tolerated under any circumstances at this agency under my leadership,” Ryan said in a press conference, according to WYFF.
“What we do in uniform and the things and the choices that we make in uniform not only reflects on themselves, but it reflects on every man and woman that wears this uniform, not only here at the sheriff’s office, but across the entire state in the United States.”
The Sheriff’s Office hasn’t disclosed the deputy’s name yet because they want to respect his family as they deal with the matter. Rhyne claimed that the deputy worked the third shift and patrolled the Reidville area.
The sheriff also said that the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy is likely to start the process of taking away the former deputy’s certification, which would mean that he could never work in law enforcement in the state again.
“This is not representative of what this agency wants to be,” Rhyne said. “I want the people of Spartanburg County to see that we are going to be transparent, and that we are committed to restoring the trust that has been lost. Our community deserves nothing less.”
