TIMMONSVILLE, SC (WBTW) – Timmonsville police say people have recently broken into homes and damaged property in the area.
Chief Gregory Palmer says according to statistics an uptick in crime is often seen during the summer months.
Palmer has been Timmonsville’s Chief of Police since 2014. He says vandalism is something he has noticed reoccurring in the small town.
In fact, Palmer says the department was a recent victim after someone stole bicycles from the old police department.
“Unfortunately when you are limited in resources it’s easy for them to pick up who’s working and who is not working and who drives what car,” said Timmonsville Police Chief Gregory Palmer.
Chief Palmer says due to the town’s small police presence their partnership with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office helps them tremendously when assistance is needed.
Now citizens in Timmonsville say they are worried more than ever after an EMS worker was shot in his town truck last week while visiting a cemetery.
Mary Knotts has lived in the town of Timmonsville since 1984. She says the crime is getting out of hand and even causing more people to relocate.
“You’ve got to keep looking back and forth and up and down because you don’t know what’s going to happen. When the police department left from here that really gave them a chance to come in and do whatever they wanted to do to the town of Timmonsville,” said Knotts.
Chief Palmer says there is an open position for a full-time officer that he hopes to fill this year.
There will be a public forum for people in the community to come and address any concerns.
The meeting will take place on June 22 at 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall located at 115 West Main Street in Downtown Timmonsville.
