An Era Ends: Sheriff Stone Retires

Monday marked the last day of C. David Stone's long career as Sheriff of Pickens County.

Stone spoke of his career during a special luncheon held for retiring Pickens County Sheriff's Office employees last month.

He served as Sheriff for 44 years. He is the second-longest serving sheriff in the country.

“Good things come to an end at some point. I thought that I would be there forever,” Stone said. “I've learned better. After I sit around awhile, after the election, I got up in my shed and started talking to myself, and I found out that I was getting older. Of course, I wasn't ready to go, but I don't have any regrets.”

Stone has had some close calls over his long career. He recalled a time when he and Captain Dewey Smith were waiting for a kidnapping suspect to pick up $5,000 in ransom money late one night.

Smith and Stone were waiting in a driveway, Stone said.

“It was cold and I was ready to go home,” Stone recalled.

They heard a branch snap, he said.

They saw someone dressed in solid black bend down to pick up the money.

“We went out on him,” Stone said. “Captain Smith went on one side, I went on the other. He had a pistol on him. We did what we were supposed to do. We told him to surrender. He didn't.”

The suspect, standing near Smith, shot twice, Stone said.

“All I could see was this ball of fire coming out of the weapon,” Stone said.

Smith hit the ground and Stone feared the worst.

“I thought my partner had been hit,” Stone said. “I was on the other side. I was shaking like a leaf. I shook two (bullets) of out of mine, but I missed him.

Smith was uninjured and they were able to take the suspect into custody.

“I'm glad it turned out the way it did,” Stone said. “I think that's the closest I've ever come.”

Years later, the two men can joke about the incident.

“I think before he got the second shot off, Dewey was on the ground.” Stone said. “Capt. Smith's pretty heavy, it didn't take him long to get down there on the ground.”

But Smith had another explanation for his dropping to the ground so quickly.

“There was $5,000 in that bag and I was going to get it before Tim (Morgan) got it,” he said, laughing.

During his 44 years as Sheriff, the Pickens County Sheriff's Office has never had an officer killed in the line of duty.

“We've been blessed,” Stone said.

Stone that his father, longtime chief of the Pickens Police Department, gave him some good advice early in his law enforcement career.

“Treat people just like you want to be treated, and things will work out,” he said. “That sort of my motto.”

“It's been a pleasure working with you all,” Stone told the PCSO employees. “As we go out, some of you will still be here. Work with the citizens and keep law enforcement strong as you've done in the past, and may God bless you.”