Lexington County Sheriff James Metts Starts 41st Year in Office

Lexington County Sheriff James Metts is officially starting his 11th elected term in office, making him the longest-serving sheriff in South Carolina who currently holds office. 

Metts, 66, was sworn in during a ceremony Thursday evening at Lexington County Council chambers for county officials who were elected in November. 

Metts first took the oath of office as sheriff on Dec. 15, 1972, when Gov. John Carl West, Sr. appointed him to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor. This year will be his 41st year in office.

But Metts can't claim the title of longest-serving sheriff in South Carolina yet. Pickens County Sheriff David Stone served for 44 years before retiring this month. He's also the second-longest serving sheriff in the country. 

Aside from Metts' duties as sheriff, he teaches classes for law enforcement professionals and criminal justice students at the collegiate level.

In 2009, Metts received the Advocate of the Year award from the South Carolina National Safety Council in recognition of the leadership role he played in promoting the Alive at 25 driver-safety program for young drivers. He also enlisted Lexington County Sheriff’s deputies to serve as instructors in the program.

Metts was the first South Carolina sheriff to hire school resource officers, victims’ assistance officers and certified female law enforcement officers. He also was the first sheriff to implement mandatory drug screening and psychological testing of prospective deputies.

In South Carolina, Metts was the first sheriff to assign a team of deputies to conduct traffic enforcement patrols to arrest motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. In 1992, the National Safety Council presented Metts with “The J. Stannard Baker Traffic Safety Award,” which is the nation’s highest honor for contributions to highway safety.

Metts led the effort to create the Lexington County Criminal Domestic Violence Court, which was the first court in South Carolina dedicated to exclusively handle domestic violence cases. The court includes an intensive treatment program for abusers and their families. Metts hired two detectives to investigate domestic violence cases as well as a lawyer to prosecute such cases in court.

Metts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, a master’s degree in criminal justice and a doctorate in education, all from the University of South Carolina. He also is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, National Sheriff’s Institute, National Corrections Academy, South Carolina Executive Institute and Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

In 2004, Gov. Mark Sanford awarded Metts the Order of the Silver Crescent, which is the highest civilian honor awarded in South Carolina for community service.

In 1998, Gov. David Beasley awarded Metts the Order of the Palmetto, which is the highest civilian honor that a governor can bestow in South Carolina.

As a professional law enforcement administrator, Metts has served as a role model for children by participating in school programs to promote reading and by working with Boy Scout troops across Lexington County. Metts, who is an Eagle Scout, received the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest civilian honor bestowed by the Boy Scouts of America.

Metts started the first Boy Scouts of America Explorer Post at the sheriff’s department, providing an opportunity for hundreds of teenagers to receive first-hand experience about a career in law enforcement. Over the years, Metts has hired many former explorer scouts to work as full-time deputies.