Blackville saw a crime decline in 2011, something the police chief hopes to build on in 2012.
“We’ve been seeing a decrease,” said Blackville Police Chief John Holston. In 2011, the town had 677 reported incidences, compared to 709 in 2010. Holston has been with the department for eight years, including five as chief.
Larcenies (72), motor vehicle thefts (4) and drug offenses (12) all declined in 2011, while homicides (0), rapes (1) and robberies (5) remained at 2010 levels. While there were no murders in the town limits, there was one a few miles outside the town limits.
Chief Holston said a variety of factors contributed to the decline in recent years, including increased property checks, being more visible in their patrols, how they handle incidents, keeping criminals off the streets and improving community relations through a neighborhood watch and Jan. 23 public forum. “I feel we’ve been able to bridge some gaps,” he said, noting how some residents are reporting incidents earlier.
Resident involvement is key to continuing the progress made in 2011. “As law enforcement officers it’s vital to us we have good cooperation with citizens because we all have a duty to the town,” he said.
While Blackville saw many improvements in 2011, they did see an increase in three crimes. Reported cases of assaults increased from 61 to 72, burglaries rose from 27 to 32 and weapons violations grew from six to 11, according to data provided by the Blackville Police Department.
Chief Holston said increases like these can happen when certain “stressors” like job loss and a bad economy are introduced. He and his officers have seen “verbal altercations turn to physical altercations,” including those among siblings and neighbors. Some of the reported incidents included non-residents, he said.
While “we won’t be able to completely eradicate crime” Chief Holston said he wants to “revamp some things for the 2012-13 budget year.” This includes addressing animal control and code enforcement needs, hiring another officer to fill the void left by one who was not replaced last year and utilizing any available resources.
Chief Holston is also hopeful recent job announcements in the town will not only decrease the unemployment rate, but crime rate as well. “We know when the economy is stimulated, we’ll see those (crime numbers) go down,” he said.
He encourages residents to get involved, give feedback and report concerns or crime when it happens—which can be done anonymously by calling the department. Chief Holston said he would also like to create a Facebook page for his department to further the relationship with the community. “We want the citizens to feel free to share their concerns and criticisms,” he said.
Besides Chief Holston, the department has five full-time officers, two certified reserve officers and a police clerk.
The Blackville Police Department can be reached at (803) 284-2333. In an emergency dial 911.

Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles reviewing crime in Barnwell County in 2011 and local law enforcement’s goals for 2012. Over the coming weeks we will also highlight the Barnwell and Williston police departments and Barnwell County Detention Center.