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STRING OF SHOOTINGS AT LOCAL WATERING HOLES FORCES POLICY
In a story that could only take place in South Carolina, a sheriff has banned his officers from attending local bars and nightclubs in their free time.
Colleton County Sheriff George Malone informed employees that they would be reprimanded or fired if caught at one of the local watering holes while off duty.
The policy was put in place after a recent string of shootings at area clubs and bars. Malone said it was unethical for any of the department’s 125 staff members to frequent those establishments.
“If I find out about it, they could lose their jobs,” Malone told the Charleston Post and Courier Tuesday.
The decision makes Colleton County the only sheriff’s office in the Lowcountry to restrict how employees can spend their free time.
It also means that the big sheriff’s department rave at Spirits Lounge near Walterboro (the fancy place pictured above) is a no go.
Some may want to argue the Sheriff does not have the right to stop employees from going to adult lounges, I would contend they have a moral obligation to set an example. If they don’t like it leave the department.
The Sheriff is most likely just trying to keep his officers alive.
Give me a break. This sheriff may be trying to keep his officer alive or set a moral example, he may claim it is unethical for off-duty officers to be there, or whatever, but that is illegal. You cannot tell an employee what they can or cannot do in the off hours. Bet anything there will be at least one lawsuit to arise out of this. And the article is right: Only in South Carolina.
[...] Thursday, the ACLU said Colleton County Sheriff George Malone was wrong in banning all employees from going to the watering holes after a series of recent [...]