Charleston Co. Sheriff Candidate Demoted For Political Actions On The Job
Charleston, S.C.:
A Republican candidate for the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Chief Rocky Burke, has been demoted to the position of Livability Detective after an internal investigation determined that his actions on the job were influenced by politics.
Reasons Behind the Demotion:
The candidate was demoted due to violations of departmental communication policies, circumventing the established hierarchy, and causing conflicts with surrounding law enforcement agencies. Documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reveal that Rocky Burke reached out to Representative Nancy Mace’s office in Washington, DC, to file a complaint against the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office.
His complaints ultimately reached the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which then reached out to Sheriff Kristin Graziano. Following the FBI’s concerns, an internal inquiry was launched, leading to Burke being placed on administrative leave on April 4.
Unraveling The Investigation:
The internal probe revealed that Burke had attempted to connect with a family member of Representative Mace to communicate with her. The investigation also accuses Burke of disclosing sensitive information about an investigation into a Senior Skip Day event planned for April 11, breaching departmental policy.
In early March, the Department of Public Safety was alerted about a threatening social media post related to the scheduled event involving an individual residing in North Carolina. According to Folly Beach Chief Andrew Gilreath’s investigation, local law enforcement did not take the threat seriously unless it was deemed credible, leading to Burke’s dissatisfaction.
Political Motives:
The investigation led by Gilreath concludes that both Sheriff Kristin Graziano and Chief Gilreath believe that Burke’s actions were politically driven. Before this incident, on March 28, Burke was suspended for a day after getting into an altercation with Gilreath over an undisclosed matter.
Current Status and Future Plans of the Candidate:
Currently, Burke has directed his concentration towards his campaign for Sheriff Graziano’s seat. His demotion is planned to take effect upon his return from his current leave.
This information serves to present an unbiased, factual update regarding recent events within the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office. The readers are urged to follow official announcements for any additional details related to this matter.
