Although the cloudy skies seemed to discourage some folks from coming out, Richmond County’s Sheriff Richard Roundtree and staff from the Sheriff’s Office hosted their annual Burger and Shakes on Saturday, Sept. 10, at May Park Community Center.
As attendees received free burgers, chips and milkshakes, Roundtree said he hoped, through his open invite event, people of the community would come out and get to know their officers on a friendly level.
“It’s an event we do every year since I’ve been sheriff; it’s one of those different opportunities where the people can come out and see the Sheriff’s Office in a casual setting, and they get a chance to meet me,” said Roundtree.
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He said often members of the community only meet him when crime is involved which prevents people from truly getting to know their sheriff.
“I come out here for three hours, shake hands and talk with people — just give them the opportunity to actually say they’ve met their sheriff,” he said.
Roundtree said he wants locals to know his staff is here to help and make the community better.
“The Sheriff’s Office is among the people, we’re service agents,” he said. “That’s what we’re trying to reinstate, the fact that we’re just here for service. We’re not just a crime fighting tool; that’s why every year we move this event to a different park in the county so we can meet as many residents as we possibly can.”
Among some of the attending staff from the Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Lucas Grant of the Community Services Division said, “it gives the Sheriff the opportunity to get back out here within the community and answer questions that they may have or concerns. It also gives us the opportunity, as employees, to engage with the community and let them know that this is their sheriff’s office.”
Grant said he believes it is important to make connections with people to establish trust, which might encourage locals to call the Sheriff’s Office if they have a problem or to share an anonymous tip.
“It’s all about engagement. Engagement and communication are key because, as citizens, you’re wanting to know about certain things that go on within the community,” he said. “It gives us the opportunity to build bonds and relationships to where, if we do have certain investigations that we work, they are no longer wanting to be quiet. They are wanting to come forward and speak with us.”
Grant said if citizens are concerned for their safety, due to incidents in the area, it is crucial to fall back on that communication to relieve any worries they might have.
“They need to know that we’re out there, doing our job to the best of our ability and we’re gonna make sure our community is safe,” he said. “We want to get to know them, we want to be there for them, and of course be there in any situation where they have a concern; we’re there for them.”
Grant explained how his division plays a huge role in establishing these vital connections between Richmond County residents and the Sheriff’s Office and breaking possible fears of law enforcement that have been taught by others.
“Sometimes they do [fear us], but I feel like that is a taught process from generation to generation. Let’s say there was a bad experience that someone may have experienced and they were gonna teach their children ‘hey this is what you should watch out for,’ so then, that’s set into their brain,” he said. “So it’s our job to break that cycle; let them know that times back then are not what it is today. We’re not here to bring harm to you, we’re not here to hurt your family or anything like that. We are here to solve problems, we are the mediator as we have to uphold our oath, but we want them to know that we are here to help them and guide them each day.”
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Lt. Glen Raph of Internal Affairs for the Sheriff’s Office said, “we always want to build great relationships within the community, and for the most part I think we do; there will always be some naysayers, but the community respects what we do and that what helps us.”
Roundhouse was elected sheriff in 2012, and employees claimed — true to his word — he has made interaction and engagement a priority in his initiatives with the community through events like his annual Burgers and Shakes.
“People love it; they come out; and we get to have that casual conversation with them. They get to share some concerns as well — some things they would like to see,” Roundtree said. “They at least get the opportunity to say ‘hey, I met my sheriff and I shared some of my concerns with him, and I had a hamburger and milkshake.’”
Liz Wright is a staff writer covering education and general assignments for The Augusta Press. Reach her at liz@theaugustapress.com
