By HEATHER RUPPE
A Colleton County native who has a passion for law enforcement was recently promoted within the Colleton County Sheriff's Office.
After serving with the sheriff's office for one year, Raymond Davis has been promoted from deputy to Corporal. Davis transferred to the local sheriff's office after working for about five years for the Jasper County Sheriff's Office. Back in his own community, at the Colleton County Sheriff's Office, Cpl. Davis is a part of the team's K-9 Division: here, he uses his canine partner- Mako - to search for missing people, look for suspects and locate drugs.
Mako is a 2-year-old German Shepherd dually certified through the American Society of Canine Trainers. When asked, Davis is quick to talk about his love for his canine partner and the importance of having canine officers in local law enforcement communities.
"K9s are an important tool, not just for law enforcement officers but also for the entire community," said Davis. "When children wander off and get lost, a K9 has the ability and training to find them, as well locate elderly adults to bring them home safely.
"They are also a vital part of our fight against drugs," he said. "The K9 has more scent capabilities than humans; therefore, they can detect the odor of narcotics that are in most cases hidden.
"Mako is my partner," said Davis. "As much as I do my best to keep him safe, he does, even more, to keep me safe. I'm super excited to be back serving the citizens of Colleton County, but even more excited to have Mako with me as a tool to better serve them."
Currently, Davis is also working with the county's road patrol. However, his new promotion may expand his duties in the community, he said.
According to Colleton County Sheriff Buddy Hill, Davis has been promoted because of his attitude and dedication to the community. "Cpl. Davis is proactive in his duties and an asset to the Colleton County Sheriff's Office," said Hill.
