Meet The New Chief Of North Augusta Public Safety

North Augusta, SC—He likes the Gamecocks, so Chief John Thomas already knows he might have a few rivals right from the start. But despite that, this father-of-two says Southern hospitality has taken him by pleasant surprise.

Chief John Thomas, North Augusta Department of Public Safety: “The people have been overwhelmingly warm and welcoming us to the community, and that’s one of the things that’s really sold me.“

He comes from Clinton, South Carolina…they also have a Department of Public Safety, and that same small-town feel. The new chief is doing is homework on the city, right now, he says, finding out where it’s been, and where it’s going…and finding out about some of its unsettled crimes, like the deadly Huddle House shooting, 3 years ago.

Joy Howe, reporting: “North Augusta is full of beautiful, quiet neighborhoods, but they also have their share of unsolved murder cases. We asked the chief what the one thing was that he would not stand for on his streets.“

His answer: to keeping neighborhoods quiet and crime down, is directed at his officers.

Chief Thomas: “My motto is doing the right thing, and making sure our officers are professional, and abide by those rules, and that standard that we set, because law enforcement officers are held to a higher standard than each citizen, and that’s what we expect from our people.“

And he’s banking on that to keep his new town in check…

Chief Thomas: “I’ve only been on the job almost…what, 2 and ½ days?“

...As North Augusta now falls under the watch of Chief John Thomas.

Chief Thomas replaces former North Augusta Police Chief Lee Wetherington, who retired earlier this year, after 36 years with the department.