Sheriff Stone Receives Billy Wilkins Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement

Former Solicitor Billy Wilkins said he had tried to keep this year's Pickens County recipient of the Billy Wilkins Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement under wraps until “the final moments.”

“But how you say that he's the second longest serving Sheriff in the United States without saying he's the second longest serving Sheriff in the United States?” Wilkins asked.

Pickens County Sheriff C. David Stone was awarded the Billy Wilkins Award Thursday morning during a special ceremony at the courthouse.

“Sheriff David Stone is one of the most outstanding public servants that Pickens County has ever produced,” Wilkins said.

Stone is completing his eleventh term as Pickens County Sheriff, having served longer than any active sheriff in the state.

“He was named Sheriff of the Year in 1975 and 1981” Wilkins said. “He's a graduate of the FBI National Academy. He received the Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement. He's received the Order of the Palmetto – the highest order that can be bestowed on a citizen of South Carolina, and so many other awards.

A past president of the South Carolina Sheriff's Association, Stone served on that organization's board for 25 years.

When Billy Wilkins was elected Solicitor, he said he decided that Pickens County would no longer be treated as “a stepchild to Greenville County, as previous solicitors had treated Pickens County.”

“It didn't get the attention that it should have received,” Wilkins said. “The only thing separating Pickens County and Greenville County is the Saluda River. The sheriff and I talked about it – housebreakers, burglars and other types of career criminals don't care about the river. So a housebreaking in Pickens County affects Greenville County because that same burglar is going to cross that river, and vice versa. So we needed to work together as a circuit, not just as a single county, to combat crime in the 13^th Judicial Circuit. And that's what we did.”

As a result, Wilkins said he “came to Pickens a lot.”

“Not only to try cases in this courtroom, but to meet with the sheriff, as we conducted cases, as we worked cases,” he said. “Because I spent so much time here with the sheriff, he and I developed a friendship that has lasted many years. We are honored to present this award to him.”

Sheriff Stone thanked Wilkins for his focus on Pickens County during his tenure as solicitor.

“The officers who were here at the time really appreciate what he has done for Pickens County and for the Thirteenth Circuit,” Stone said, adding he also appreciated Billy Wilkins' son, current Thirteenth Circuit Solicitor Walt Wilkins III.

“It's just hard to believe 44 years as gone by like it has, and the changes we have all seen,” Stone said.

He remembered chasing bootleggers, and said bootleggers could hardly compare to the drugs his office sees every day.

“Just over and over and over, something new comes around,” Stone said.

He thanked legislators, including Sen. Larry Martin, for crafting legislation quickly that untied the hands of law enforcement officers regarding new kinds of drugs.

“It's a problem, a big problem,” Stone said. “As I see it, it's not going to get better.”

He said area police chiefs and their departments and the Sheriff's Office always worked well together.

“We meet once a month and we get things done, and we work together, and I appreciate that,” Stone said. “I know you'll continue to work with each other, because if you don't work with each other, you're not getting anything accomplished.”

Stone said “it's been a great pleasure for me to represent Pickens County as sheriff” for all these years.

“It hasn't always been good, but we made it, we worked through troubles and trials,” Stone said. “It's a pleasure to stand before you all and say I've enjoyed law enforcement. I know that Pickens County is going to go forward. Any time that I can help, I'll be here, I'll try to do whatever I can. Leaving is going to be hard, but it's time.”

“I know this isn't supposed to be a political thing, but Tim Morgan would make a good sheriff for you,” Stone said.