Chief Carl Ritchie Releases Plan to Restore Safety in Jail and Integrity in Sheriff Office

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

CHARLESTON, SC – Chief Carl Ritchie, former longtime Mount Pleasant Police Chief and candidate for Charleston County Sheriff, released his Five-Point Plan to restore safety in the county detention center and integrity in the Sheriff’s Office.

The plan’s release comes in response to seventeen inmate deaths and Department of Justice investigations into the failed leadership of the county’s detention center by current Sheriff Kristin Graziano.

Chief Ritchie’s plan calls for the recruitment and hiring of a professional jail administrator, 24/7 EMTs on site for immediate life-saving response, private security to supplement staff, a dedicated human resource professional for onboarding, and the classification of detention center deputies as critical positions within the county.

“This plan is about restoring order, saving lives, and protecting our community’s resources,” said Chief Ritchie. “It is time for leadership that acts, not reacts. Being pro-active and working in partnership with local, state and federal agencies were at the cornerstone of my tenure as Police Chief and will be again as Sheriff.”



Full prepared remarks of Chief Ritchie at today’s press conference are as follows:

"Good afternoon. I’m Chief Carl Ritchie, and I’m here today because our community cannot afford more of the same failed leadership in the Sheriff's Office. 

We all hear daily on the news that the stakes in this election couldn’t be higher. I argue that is true, particularly if you are a resident of Charleston County, work as a detention officer, or are housed in the Al Cannon Detention Center.

I have received numerous phone calls and messages from former inmates, inmate families, former detention officers and their families who are all very concerned about the condition of the jail, staffing shortages and the overall safety of staff and inmates.

17 inmates have tragically died. 17 deaths are not just a failure of leadership—it’s a crisis that demands immediate action.

Charleston County deserves accountability and transparency from its Sheriff. We need change. That’s why I’m unveiling today and will start implementing on Day One as Sheriff my Five-Point Plan to restore safety, integrity, and trust in our detention center.

1.   Recruit and Hire a Professional Jail Administrator: The Detention Center is currently being managed by an unqualified administrator appointed by the current sheriff. We need a professional, qualified administrator to run the jail effectively. Leadership matters, and we need someone who knows how to manage this facility properly from day one.

2.   24/7 EMTs for Immediate Life-Saving Response: The current medical care at the detention center has failed. Kristin Graziano is now on her second different medical provider. 17 deaths are proof that more must be done to effectively care for the inmate population. My plan will ensure we have certified and trained EMTs on-site around the clock. Their expertise will allow us to immediately address medical emergencies, stabilize inmates in distress, and, most importantly, save lives.

3.   Contract with Private Security to Supplement Staff: The staffing shortages in our jail are dangerous. There are currently over 80 vacancies! Until we can internally meet the required staffing levels, I will contract with private security firms to assist. They will handle duties such as monitoring cameras, entry control, visitor access, and paperwork, while leaving custody and control of inmates to trained detention officers. This has worked successfully in Richland County, and it will allow our officers to focus on keeping both themselves and inmates safe and preventing assaults.

4.   Dedicated HR Professional for Onboarding: We need to streamline the hiring process. Right now, when potential employees face long employment and onboarding wait times, they go elsewhere. My plan assigns a dedicated HR professional to audit and improve our onboarding process and get officers to work.

5.   Work with County Council to Prioritize Detention Officers: My plan calls for the classification of detention center deputies as critical positions. This will allow us to allocate recruiting bonuses from the dollars already in the budget—without asking for additional funds. These sign-on bonuses and recruitment incentives can and will help attract and retain qualified officers.

This plan is about restoring order, saving lives, and protecting our community’s resources. It is time for leadership that acts, not reacts. Being pro-active and working in partnership with local, state and federal agencies were at the cornerstone of my tenure as Police Chief and will be again as Sheriff.

I am committed to bringing real change to the Charleston County Sheriff's Office, and with your support, we will make our jail safer—for everyone.”

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