Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Investigator Receives Award

(From L - R: Master Deputy Steven Gilliard, Investigator Sergeant Clay Sheriff and Staff Sergeant Tyler Chapman)

(Walhalla, SC)-------------------------------------A Property Crimes Investigator from the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office recently received an award during training that took place in Orlando, FL.

Investigator Sergeant Clay Sheriff received the Daniel Pearson Law Enforcement Award in March of this year at a training that was sponsored by the American Rental Association and the National Equipment Register. 

The award was given to Investigator Sergeant Sheriff for his “…dedication to the recovery of stolen equipment and your efforts to prevent equipment theft in the rental industry.”

According to Investigator Sergeant Sheriff, the American Rental Association hosts training every year, which is attended by law enforcement officers from across the United States.  The training focuses on the prevention of theft of heavy equipment and rental equipment, which would include equipment such as skid steers, excavators, front loaders and backhoes. 

The training provides those in attendance with the knowledge and investigative tools needed for investigations into the theft of heavy equipment and rental equipment.

Investigator Sergeant Sheriff received his award for an investigation that led to the initial recovery of three pieces of heavy equipment, which were two skid steers and an excavator, with an approximate value of $265,000.  Further investigation revealed that over twenty machines had been stolen from states in the Southeast, which led to the involvement of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  The value of the machines that were stolen and recovered as part of the investigation was close to $1 million dollars. 

The investigation started with the recovery of an excavator in Fair Play on March 13^th, 2025.  The excavator was stolen from a jobsite in Dekalb County, GA. 

Investigator Sergeant Sheriff was nominated for the award by a private business in the state of Georgia due to four machines stolen from their business being recovered as part of the Investigation. 

At an Oconee County Sheriff’s Office Award Ceremony that was held on Tuesday, March 17^th, Investigator Sergeant Sheriff received the Sheriff’s Award of Excellence. 

Also receiving a Meritorious Award at the Promotions Ceremony were Uniform Patrol Master Deputy Steven Gilliard and Staff Sergeant Tyler Chapman for their initial response to the scene after being notified that the stolen excavator was in Fair Play on March 13^th of last year.