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Lamaz Robinson has been chief of the Barnwell Police Department since July 2021. He is leaving to become Allendale town administrator.
Robert Miller (right) is coming out of retirement to serve the Barnwell Police Department as interim chief. He retired in July 2021 as assistant chief after 43 years of service with the department.
The Allendale Town Council is slated to hire Barnwell police chief Lamaz Robinson as its next town administrator, as well as Allendale County Council member William Robinson (unrelated) as a part-time “administrator consultant.” Additionally, the town swore in Shawn Howze as its new Deputy Chief of Police at its September 12 monthly meeting.
Lamaz Robinson previously served as part-time town administrator of Johnston, South Carolina and will be leaving his role as Barnwell police chief to take the job as Allendale town administrator.
According to council member Kathy Tharin, four candidates were considered for the job. These candidates were Jackie Jones, a former town council member; Horace Matthews, Tymoshio Robinson; and Lamaz Robinson. The council has not yet officially hired Lamaz Robinson, and the council is currently working on a contract, said mayor pro-tem Dawan “Pookie” Smith.
During Lamaz Robinson’s time as police chief in Johnston, a South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigation found that Lamaz Robinson had sexual relations with a 17-year-old in 2017. The SLED investigation concluded with a report which found that Lamaz Robinson never broke the law, as the minor was 17 at the time and legally was at the age of consent, though the age of consent was changed in 2019. However, ethical concerns resulted in local controversy and the resignation of Pickens Williams Sr., a 25-year-long Barnwell City Council member, in June 2021 after the council hired Robinson as police chief.
Council member Kathy Tharin said she and the Allendale Town Council were aware of the SLED report and conducted an “independent investigation” during the interview process.
“We decided that those particular circumstances would not affect his ability to perform his duties,” Tharin said. “We didn’t see it being an issue.”
Smith, who attended the September 12 meeting virtually, said he was not involved in the hiring process and declined to comment further.
“I don't know much about that situation,” Smith said. “I don’t want to comment on that until I get all the pertinent information.”
Council members Lee Harley-Fitts and Hattie Jackson could not be reached by press time.
Town administrator is a powerful position that is responsible for overseeing a variety of administrative aspects of a town, from employee and budget management to the day-to-day operations of the town. Tharin said Lamaz Robinson’s full-time position will pay him roughly $65,000 a year, while William Robinson’s position as an assistant administrator will be 20 hours a week and be paid $28,000 per year.
“[William Robinson] will be a reference point and resource for Lamaz Robinson when he comes into the office,” Tharin said. “What we liked about Mr. [Lamaz] Robinson was that he had come into the interview with a lot of good ideas about what direction he saw [the town of] Allendale going,” Tharin said.
Lamaz Robinson said one of his goals as town administrator is to conduct a “comprehensive evaluation” of the town’s services and processes.
“In layman's terms, we’re making sure that everybody’s getting a bang for their bucks,” Lamaz Robinson said. “The comprehensive evaluation is making sure that we take our current budget that we have and making sure that we’re spending within budget and we’re spending on necessary items.”
Depending on the structure of a town’s government, the town administrator may have more or less power. In South Carolina, there are three different forms of local government: council form, mayor-council form and council-manager form. Allendale has a council form of government, meaning that the Allendale Town Council is the strongest branch of government, and the town administrator reports directly to council.
“Council may appoint an administrator to assist council,” the South Carolina Municipal Association defines. “The administrator only has the authority delegated by council. Council may appoint an officer of the city, other than a member of council to administer departments.”
Lamaz Robinson said he is currently considering whether or not he will move to Allendale for the job.
Councilman Marlon Creech said the Town of Allendale will meet September 25 to vote on the hiring of Robinson.
Barnwell City Council met September 19 to discuss Robinson's departure and a path forward. Council unanimously accepted his resignation effective Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Also, Barnwell City Council voted unanimously to ask Robert Miller to serve as interim chief. Miller retired in July 2021 as assistant chief with the Barnwell Police Department following 43 years of service.
"We are really appreciative of him for stepping up and helping us out," said Barnwell City Administrator Lynn McEwen of Miller for accepting their request to temporarily help.
Miller will serve until a new chief is hired. McEwen said they will start a search soon.
Other Council News
Additionally, at the September 12 meeting, Lawrence Wiggins, chief of the Town of Allendale’s police department, swore in Shawn Howze as the town’s new deputy chief. Howze has been serving as Barnwell’s assistant police chief under Lamaz Robinson. The timing of them moving to Allendale was unplanned, according to Lamaz Robinson.
In addition to swearing in Howze, the council also voted on multiple legislative items at its September 12 meeting.
The council voted unanimously in favor of a first reading to adopt a credit card policy that would restrict the use of the town's credit card to council member Lee Harley-Fitts. The reason cited was due to the town's lack of an administrator. In August, after council members discussed passing a credit card policy, The People-Sentinel submitted a request under the Freedom of Information Act for receipts from the town’s credit card. The People-Sentinel is currently waiting for the request to be fulfilled.
During the council's committee reports, Police Chief Wiggins said the investigation regarding the homicide of Ronnie Crawford is still underway, and the suspect has not been found. The homicide occurred on August 13 at Bluff Road and Sam Street in the Town of Allendale and the crime was reported to the community 14 days later, on August 27.
