Metts Awards Sheriff's Medals

Three of Lexington County's finest have been awarded the Sheriff’s Medal, the highest law enforcement honor that Sheriff James Metts bestows. 

In a recent ceremony, Metts awarded the medals to three sheriff's department supervisors for exemplary service. Among them was Sgt. Kevin Blackmon in recognition of his coordination of the annual Sheriff’s Department Christmas holiday food and toy drive in 2011. Metts hired Blackmon, 34, of Lexington, on June 11, 2004. Blackmon works as a supervisor in the Judicial Services Division.

According to Metts, deputies in partnership with businesses, citizens and neighborhood watch groups donated more than 6,000 pounds of non-perishable food items, and more than 3,000 new, unwrapped toys that were provided to the department for the agency’s Christmas holiday food and toy drive. 

"Deputies provided toys and clothes directly to 249 persons who were in need of assistance," Metts said. Deputies also provided 800 pounds of non-perishable food items directly to 60 needy families. In addition, deputies provided 300 toys to Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital, which distributed the toys to young patients at the hospital.

"Kevin did an excellent job in obtaining generous monetary donations as well as generous donations of non-perishable food items and toys so that our agency could provide food and toys to hundreds of families in Lexington County that were in need of assistance during our nation’s worst economic recession in decades," Metts said. "Kevin conducted a holiday food and toy drive that was exceptionally well-organized and very successful." 

Harvest Hope Food Bank, , We Care Center in Chapin and The God’s People in Service Ministry Center in Gaston also distributed non-perishable food items that the Sheriff’s Department donated from the agency’s holiday food and toy drive, Metts said. The Salvation Army also distributed toys that the Sheriff’s Department donated from the agency’s holiday food and toy drive.

Metts also presented the Sheriff’s Medal to Sgt. Sam Gunter in recognition of Gunter’s coordination of the first annual James R. Metts Wildlife Dinner and Banquet. Metts hired Gunter, 47, of Gilbert, on August 19, 1991. Gunter supervises code enforcement officers, resident deputies and school resource officers in the West Region Patrol District, which is based near Gilbert.

About $15,000 in proceeds from the wildlife dinner, which was held on October 6, 2011 near Batesburg-Leesville, were used to help , an 11-year-old Gilbert Elementary School student who is battling a brain tumor, Metts said.

"Sam exhibited excellent leadership in organizing a dinner to benefit a boy who is so worthy of the support that he has received from law enforcement and citizens," Metts said. "While every day presents physical and mental challenges for Wyatt, Wyatt is confident that he will overcome the brain tumor through the support of his family, his community and his faith."

In addition, Metts presented the Sheriff’s Medal to Capt. Luke Fossum in recognition of his leadership and work in implementing an integrated computer records management system for the Lexington County Detention Center and Sheriff’s Department operations. Metts hired Fossum, 36, of West Columbia, on March 29, 1999.

The records management system enables deputies to prepare incident reports on laptop computers in their patrol cars and electronically submit the reports, Metts said. Officers also receive calls for service on their laptop computers from the computer-aided dispatch system that is operated by the Lexington County Communications Center.

"Luke spent thousands of hours ensuring the success of the project," Metts said. "Luke conducted research, wrote specifications for the records management system, conducted tests, conducted training and always was willing to assist anyone who needed help in using the system."