Oconee County Sheriff’s Foundation Purchases Life Jackets to Promote Water Safety for Children

(From L - R: Corporal Billy Lee, Lieutenant Justin Murphy, Andrew Holliday and Sheriff Mike Crenshaw

(Walhalla, SC)--------------------------------------Recently, the Oconee County Sheriff’s Foundation purchased a total of 10 life jackets (5 boys and 5 girls) for the Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit to hand out to help promote the safety of children who enjoy activities on the water in and around Oconee County.

“The purchase of the life jackets by the Foundation was made possible with funds from our Sheriff’s Community Resource Fund,” says Oconee County Sheriff Mike Crenshaw.  “Last year, a couple here in Oconee County made an anonymous donation to begin this fund which is used to help our citizens if our Deputies see a need.  In regards to the purchase of the life jackets, Deputies assigned to the Marine Unit may observe a child on a boat who does not have a proper fitting life jacket.  The Deputies can then provide that life jacket to that child to help keep them safe in the event of an emergency while they are out on the water with their families.”

According to South Carolina law, all vessels on the water must have an appropriately fitting Type I, II, III or V personal flotation device for each person on board and children under the age of 12 must wear an appropriately fitting United State Coast Guard approved personal flotation device while on board of a vessel less than 16 inches long.

“Our Marine Unit has many functions and duties while patrolling the lakes in Oconee County, which include boating safety and enforcement,” according to Sheriff Crenshaw.  “However, another function of the Marine Unit is to continue our vision of Forging Relationship to Promote a Safer Oconee.  Part of forging those relationships is doing what we can to keep our citizens safe, especially our children.  We are grateful to the Foundation for the purchase of these life jackets and for the couple who made the initial donation to begin the Officer Community Resource Fund.”

The Sheriff’s Office is also happy to announce today that Walmart in Seneca has made a recent donation of several lifejackets for the Marine Unit Deputies to distribute while on patrol. 

Sheriff Crenshaw says that the couple who made this donation would like for this program to be sustainable and if anyone would like to make a donation to the Sheriff’s Community Resource Fund, please contact Helen Westmoreland with the Oconee County Sheriff’s Foundation at hwestmoreland@oconeelaw.com.