Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver named 2026 South Carolina Sheriff of the Year
July 6, 2026
Georgetown County Sheriff Carter Weaver has been selected as the South Carolina Sheriffs’ Association 2026 Sheriff of the Year.
The prestigious annual award, sponsored by the full-service design firm Moseley Architects, will be officially presented to Sheriff Weaver during the association’s annual conference in Myrtle Beach, scheduled for July 12–15.
Widespread Praise from Peers and Public Safety Leaders
Sheriff Weaver was nominated for the honor by Horry County Sheriff Phillip Thompson, who praised Weaver’s career progression from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) to his current role.
“I am so proud that he has matured into a progressive leader that has brought the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office far beyond what we ever imagined,” Sheriff Thompson stated.
Other local public safety leaders quickly echoed the sentiment. Georgetown County Emergency Manager Brandon Ellis described Weaver as “a beacon of hope and a true partner of public safety,” while Midway Fire Chief Brent McClellan commended his ability to spearhead collaboration among county agencies. Fifteenth Circuit Solicitor Jimmy Richardson added that the statewide recognition is “so well deserved.”
A Career Built on Decades of Service
Born and raised in Georgetown County, Sheriff Weaver’s law enforcement career spans nearly 40 years. He began in 1986 with SLED, where he served on the SWAT team, bloodhound tracking team, fugitive apprehension, and criminal investigations.
He joined the Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office as Assistant Sheriff in 2001, managing enforcement, corrections, judicial, and communications units. He was subsequently elected Sheriff in February 2020. Weaver holds a bachelor’s degree from Coastal Carolina University, a Juris Doctor from the Charleston School of Law, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.
Key Initiatives and Metrics of Success
Since taking office, Sheriff Weaver has implemented several ambitious initiatives aimed at transparency, community trust, and staff welfare:
The T3 Initiative (Truth with Transparency Builds Trust): Launched to address public accountability concerns, this program includes a quarterly citizen review panel that evaluates every use-of-force incident within the agency.
Crime Reduction: Under his leadership, the agency achieved a 100% clearance rate for murder and kidnapping cases in 2025. The agency’s violent crime clearance rate stood at 74.8%, significantly outperforming the state average of 38.8%. In the last six months alone, the agency’s Narcotics Unit has taken substantial amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine, and illegal weapons off the streets.
Reentry 2.0: Weaver revived the county’s foundered inmate reentry program, which has now provided over 250 inmates with job training, GED classes, and journeyman certifications to lower recidivism.
Staff and Infrastructure Advocacy: Weaver successfully lobbied the County Council to nearly double deputy pay. He has also overseen the ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art Detention Center campus—featuring a law enforcement training center and a new 911 Telecommunications Center—set to open in the Spring of 2027.
“We are extremely proud of Sheriff Weaver,” said Todd Davis, Vice President for Moseley Architects. “He has worked tirelessly to protect and serve the citizens of Georgetown County, and through his leadership and commitment, he continues to move the county forward.”
