‘Let’s move forward’ State law enforcement association president discusses bettering relationships between officers and citizens BY ADRIENNE SARVIS adrienne@theitem.com
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SUNDAY, JULY 17, 2016
SERVING SOUTH CAROLINA SINCE OCTOBER 15, 1894
5 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES | VOL. 121, NO. 230
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Palmetto State Law Enforcement Officers Association held its 55th conference during the past week and Capt. Jeffery Jackson with Sumter Police Department and president of the association, said this year's conference was about advocating for peace and open dialogue. The association was established in 1961 in Columbia to assist black officers throughout the state during desegregation when it was dif-
ficult for them to operate in their communities, Jackson said. During the conference, he said the officers discussed ways to stay engaged in their local communities to bridge the gap between officers and citizens. Officers are encouraged to take ownerJACKSON ship of their duties and visit communities before there are problems, he said. He said regular positive interac-
tions with citizens shows the public that law enforcement personnel are human. "It is our duty to engage the community," Jackson said. "We're going to do what we took an oath to do, which is to protect and serve." Citizens could also take the first step in engaging with officers to see what they do on a daily basis, Jackson said. If your department does not have a ride-along program, ask for one, he said.
SEE CONFERENCE, PAGE A9
Pastors call for end to violence Palmetto Health Tuomey, others host HIV/AIDS awareness event C1 SPORTS
Sumter wins “O”Zone baseball state tourney opening game 16-4 B1 DEATHS, A9 Mable Nelson Ante’ L. Witherspoon Willie Lee Canty
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A Sumter resident raises her hand in prayer during a rally at the old Sumter County Court House on Saturday evening to pray for the community and nation. The event was organized by the Sumter County Concerned clergy and Sumter Ministerial Alliance.
More than 100 faithful gather at old court house for prayer vigil BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
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Led by several local clergy, people gathered and prayed for strength and unity at the Old Sumter Courthouse Saturday evening during a prayer vigil organized by area ministers. During a time when violence has
rocked the nation with a series of police-involved shootings in Minnesota and Louisiana and the killing of five police officers by a sniper in Dallas, the ministers led the group in asking God to help guide them through times that are difficult to understand. “We pray for those who have lost loved ones in Baton Rouge, in Min-
nesota and in Dallas who serve and protect,” said Rev. James Blassingame of Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church. He asked God for the strength to keep fighting and to help people join together in unity. Rev. Napoleon Bradford said
SEE VIGIL, PAGE A9
Rodeo intended to hook kids on fishing Shooting suspect turns himself in BY JIM HILLEY jim@theitem.com
Saturday wasn’t a good day to be a hungry catfish. Around 40 kids from several group homes in Columbia, Turbeville and Sumter got a chance to wet a hook at the Wateree River Correctional Institution pond Saturday morning. The pond was recently deepened and a carpenter at the correctional facility led a team of inmates who constructed an ADA accessible wooden fishing pier to allow the facility to host public events at the lake. South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said Saturday’s fishing rodeo came out of a partnership the Department of Corrections has been developing with the Department of
Natural Resources. “We did a Wounded Warriors hunt a couple of months ago that we partnered with the DNR” Stirling said. “We decided we should do a fishing rodeo.” Stirling, thought it would be a good idea to start with an event of limited size, so the idea of having children form area group homes come out and fish seemed like a good place to start. “Some of these kids don’t have a chance to get out much,” he said. “This event gives the kids a chance to get out and our correctional officers have a little fun, too,” he said. It was the perfect day to have the event, as a cloud cover left over from storms the night before kept the heat at bay, at least for a while. The DNR stocked the lake Thursday with 640 pounds of catfish, Stirling said.
JIM HILLEY / THE SUMTER ITEM
Capt. Billy Downer from S.C. Department of Natural Resources helps a group of boys from local group homes land a catfish Saturday during a fishing rodeo at Wateree River Correction Institution.
A man wanted in connection with the shooting death of Ante’ Lavern Witherspoon is now in police custody. Police think Bernie Peoples III, 28, was the shooter in an incident Friday afternoon on Dibert Street that led to Witherspoon’s death. Peoples, whose last known address is listed as 945 Gaines Road, turned himself in without incident after 6 p.m. Saturday at Sumter PoPEOPLES lice Department headquarters on Hampton Avenue. Officers were called to the scene about 4 p.m. Friday, where they found Witherspoon, 28, shot to death outside of a home.
SEE SUSPECT, PAGE A9
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