Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
The Blackville Police Department’s (BPD) interim chief has been brought on full time.
Shawn Howze accepted the position as interim chief on July 8 with the goals of building a better relationship between the department and community after the tumultuous departure of two former command staff members.
The Blackville native joined the force with over eight years of experience from law enforcement agencies in Barnwell and Allendale counties, and with big aspirations to continue serving his hometown from behind the badge.
In the past three months since joining the department, Chief Howze has had a “smooth transition” into his role as chief, he said.
During this time he has been focused on building his team and tackling community concerns, such as addressing a summertime rash of burglaries being committed by juveniles and addressing speeding in the town limits.
The department currently has six officers, including Chief Howze, and are hiring two more to make a full staff.
One of the recent hires is his former chief, Lamaz Robinson, who was hired as a BPD lieutenant – a role once filled by former lieutenant Brian Gray before being the subject of an investigation by the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.
Robinson is a former City of Barnwell police chief who left the department in September 2023 under claims of a hostile work environment and alleged ongoing issues with specific council members. Robinson has also been named in lawsuits filed against the City of Barnwell in relation to a 2022 dog attack, which have since been settled.
When Robinson was chief in the City of Barnwell, Howze worked alongside him on the command staff. According to Chief Howze, Lt. Robinson is “very knowledgeable,” and brings experience to both the administrative side and patrol side of the department, citing no issues thus far.
Looking forward, Chief Howze plans to continue addressing issues brought to him by the community, but will be particularly focused on implementing ways to slow down speeding cars and continuing to lessen burglaries. Chief Howze finds that these problems are not unique to the Town of Blackville and are seen county-wide.
He will also continue to have his officers do business and property checks while on patrol, a new precautionary measure he implemented upon being sworn in as interim chief in July. These checks allow Chief Howze to ensure his team is being proactive on the night shift, and feedback from residents has shown they are reassured by this approach.
After Hurricane Helene tore through Barnwell County, BPD and members of the town council handed out hot dogs and bottled water to anyone in need. Volunteering were members of the Blackville-Hilda Hawks football team, where Chief Howze is one of the coaches.
Fostering a mutual respectful relationship between the department and the community has been seamless for Chief Howze, who states, “I am nothing without this community.”
Since he began as chief, there has been a stark increase in attendance at monthly town council meetings. This support, along with having a strong team of officers, has made it possible for him to serve in the capacity he does, according to Chief Howze.
Alongside the community, he attributes his success in law enforcement to his family – his parents, his brother and military captain Rashodd Howze, his wife Audriana, and their three children.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here,” said Chief Howze, who thanks his wife for being “one of my biggest supporters.”
“I couldn’t be the man I am without her,” he said.
Chief Howze was sworn in for the full-time role alongside his brother, Rashodd Howze.
“That was a special moment for me to have my brother by my side,” said Chief Howze.
