Gazette Tip of the Day: Mark your calendar for Coffee with a Cop: Feb. 26 in Pawleys Island

By Karen Owens, Publisher

The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office invites you to join them for this month’s installment of Coffee with a Cop on Thursday, February 26 at 8:00 am at the Applewood Pancake House in Pawleys Island.

This is a great opportunity to get to know some of your local deputies, discuss community issues and get answers to your “burning” law enforcement questions.

Last month, I attended the Coffee with a Cop at the Sheriff’s headquarters on North Fraser Street. There were doughnuts and fresh coffee and about a half-dozen community members who came out to talk with some of Georgetown County’s finest.

I spoke with Deputy Cullin Mitchell, who was able to follow his dream of becoming a law enforcement officer after the IP plant closed in 2024. He talked about the work he and his fellow officers were doing to crack down on narcotics in the area, which tends to be one of the biggest sources of crime-related issues in our county.

Deputy Porter Magnuson was a Citadel graduate I met, and it turns out he was from a small town in Massachusetts that was just a few miles down the road from the hometown of another citizen who attended the event.

Then there was Chief Wayne Owens (no relations) who is the “lifer” with 32 years in law enforcement. He grew up in Pleasant Hill and has served the department for 28 years. He was just as kind and easy-going as you could be, but I am sure he’s experienced many challenging situations during his career in public service.

I left that day feeling grateful for the men and women I met. They have hard jobs dealing with circumstances I can hardly imagine facing myself. And I said a prayer, hoping they would all continue to serve with distinction and safety, so thankful for their willingness to protect everyday citizens like me.

If you’re in the Pawleys area next Thursday morning, I highly recommend taking a few moments to pop in to have a free coffee and say Hi to the brave men and women who put their lives on the line for us and our loved ones. It will do wonders for your spirit.