The combined forces of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office gathered at the Washington Civic Center on Monday for an event that marks the beginning of four more years of service to the people of Beaufort County.

Sheriff Ernie Coleman, who was recently reelected to serve as sheriff for a second term, formally took the oath of office as administered by Superior Court Judge Jeff Foster, and in turn swore in more than 100 deputized and civilian employees of his office.

Coleman praised the professionalism of his entire staff, from the deputies on the road, to the telecommunications staff who answer calls 24/7, to the staff of the jail who strive to treat those in their custody with respect and dignity, he said.

“The public trusts you. I very rarely hear anything negative,” Coleman told his staff during the ceremony. “I appreciate it, from the bottom of my heart. I would not be standing here if not for you. The Sheriff has the power to pick his people, and I’m very blessed on that.”

In an interview Monday, Coleman spoke of the priorities of his office moving forward, drawing on the experiences of his first term. For one, Coleman said he hopes to keep Beaufort County ahead of the curve in terms of technology, including improved 911 technology, resources for criminal investigations and body cameras for both officer safety and accountability. Through drug seizures and cooperation with other agencies, Coleman believes that these improvements can be self-sustaining.

“When you have a crime, like a murder or a rape, something that’s time sensitive, you need to get on it quick,” Coleman said. “You want to jump on it with technology and experience … You’ve got to keep up with technology when it comes to criminal investigations for the safety and security of this county.”

Another major task at hand, according to Coleman, is tackling the issue of opioid use in Beaufort County. In addition to the law enforcement aspect of this challenge, Coleman went on to say that cooperation with other agencies is critical to addressing the problem in a meaningful way.

“It’s more than just arresting people and putting them in jail,” Coleman said. “On the opioid problem, with the Governor’s Crime Commission, all they’ve talked about is law enforcement, medical services and the Department of Social Services working together on this problem. If you don’t work together, it’s not going to get done. Law enforcement itself cannot do the job alone.”

Coleman said those who come to the Beaufort County Detention Center are provided with opportunities for spiritual ministering, education and literacy training, along with other social services, all avenues that can help break the cycle of addiction.

In terms of staffing, an element that can undergo monumental changes when a new sheriff takes office, Coleman said his first term allowed him an opportunity to put the right people in the right positions. With those key staff members in place, the sheriff says he feels his department is in a good position to move forward for the next four years.

“There have been changes in every major division,” Coleman said. “Everything from the detention center, to the 911 center, to patrol, the drug unit and CID (Criminal Investigations Division). All of them had big changes in the way they operate and the services they give the citizens. Those changes have culminated up to now, and I think it’s running like a well-oiled machine.”