For over 150 years, the Sumter Police Department has been serving the citizens of Sumter, South Carolina on the solid foundation of public trust and safety. Sumter PD officers serve a 40,000-strong town and are committed to treating all in our vibrant community fairly and with respect. We are a CALEA accredited agency and maintain their gold standard of serving and protecting our communities.
LETTERS FOR SANTA
Once again, like magic, a special mailbox appeared in front of the Sumter Police Department, 335 N. Lafayette Drive, and is ready to receive Letters for Santa.
Letters placed in the box no later than Dec. 21 will be whisked away to the North Pole in hopes of the sender getting a response from merry ol' St. Nick in time for Christmas.
The letters do not require postage. However, Santa asks that you include your name and address in order for him to respond.
1 CommentComment on Facebook
So if I put my letter in there Santa gone give me everything I put in that list ? I got a whole bunch of expensive things😂
ID needed for person seen after shots fired from near public park
SUMTER, SC (Dec. 1, 2025) – Officers are working to identify a person who may have information after shots were fired from near a public park toward individuals gathered outside of a nearby apartment complex.
Police were called before 2:30 p.m. today after a man was seen firing shots from the South Purdy Street/South Guignard Drive area toward a group of individuals gathered outside of a South Guignard Drive apartment complex.
The unknown shooter then left the area before officers arrived. No injuries were reported.
The investigation is continuing and officers are working to identify a person captured by video surveillance in the area at about the time of the shooting.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Sumter Police Department immediately at 803-436-2700.
Tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers by calling 1-888-CRIME-SC, going online at P3tips.com or using the P3tips app that can be downloaded for Android and iOS (Apple) devices.
A cash reward may be available for information leading to an arrest.
-END-
Approved for media release by Chief Russell F. Roark, III
33 CommentsComment on Facebook
Seen him walking but that was at 2:49 and then I seen all the cops at the apartment complex and the Bernie Hope center but they had a car at the Bernie so I thought they had what they needed and the red hooded guy I thought was just another homeless person walking
Yeah the way yall be telling it round here he be locked by the morning 🤣🤣🤣
dude the back up camera on my jeep has better resolution?
480p, literally , good luck
My questions are as follows: Does this person have on the same clothes that some people witnessed doing the shooting or do they think he may have seen something 🤔? I'm asking this because some people in the comments thinks that he's the shooter vs being a witness.
This is not a good picture but I get it maybe all we have. We will definitely look out!
Man get yall son 🤦🏾♀️ look like a YN!
Looks like the type
Looks like the same criminal I see on fb everyday.
The Individual could be White. 😜😜😜😜
Shakoya Dashai
Betty Mcleod Dennis
Why is it ALWAYS up to the "publics help" but whenever a cop is SHOT the suspect is usually apprehended within HOURS...🙄
Not surprised
Sumter got millions of dollars worth of private hunting property for big wigs and politicians and $3.47 worth of surveillance cameras. Crazy
Need a good caring Sheriff Leon Lott to come clean up Sumter, he would definitely do better....
Stop these revolving doors and give out years for crimes period.
Wth is wrong with these people 😡
Yns
Nick gurr
Boy I'm telling you ppl have gone crazy shooting guns and shooting Ppl
All black forces tell me what I need to know
There is not one gd bullet hole, fragment, casing NOTHING that indicated he was shooting in the direction of Bernie Circle aka Guignard Apartments😒every article or person that says that is a mf liar…..not that 12 came over and investigated and didn’t find or see any of the above mentioned…🧐 and no one in that “gathering of individuals” was injured……those mf can’t solve murder cases that are still open and ya’ll really think that they got this one in the bag…..think along the lines of a chicken running around with its head cut off….. that’s about the caliber of their investigative skills!!!!🧐🧐🧐🧐 crazy work to spread lies and mislead the public SPD/local news outlets……put some real footwork in and find the real story bc this ain’t it🙄🙄🙄🙄🤔
ON THE JOB. CONNECTING WITH OUR COMMUNITY: Sgt. G. Atkinson assisted residents Saturday as they helped Cram a Cruiser with new, unwrapped toys for local children. Held each year in partnership with the Salvation Army, the Sumter Police Department holds the Cram-a-Cruiser toy drive to help ensure more Sumter families will start the day with smiles on Christmas morning.
An officer and a cruiser will be in front of Walmart on Broad Street to collect toys again from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. this Saturday, Dec. 6, and on Dec. 13.
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
Gary’s an excellent police officer but either his head has swollen or needs a larger cap !
Gary is the best!!! 👌
Great work!
Truly such a kind soul. What a blessing you are to the community
Hi Gary!
Awesome 👌
Bultman Dr will knock the alignment off been on dirt roads that ride better and how many different cars yall need
Hey Gary 👌👌👌
It’s his job tf yall praising him for ?? They asked him to do it as part of his duties.. It wasn’t volunteered and they ain’t giving 💩 ..they’re accepting the gifts READ!!!
Grear job
How bout cram a cruiser and you deliver to shut INS and disabled , elderly, or kids in hospital or cancer floor
Fdp
From our family to yours... Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!
9 CommentsComment on Facebook
Happy Thanksgiving to you all. Thank you for all you do to make us safe.
Happy Thanksgiving
Happy Thanksgiving to y’all
Happy Thanksgiving to you as well. 🦃
Thank you! Stay safe, y'all🙏🦃
Happy Thanksgiving and many blessings to you and your family
Happy Thanksgiving.
Happy Thanksgiving Day to you all enjoy
TURKEY TROT DRIVER ALERT: Traffic control measures for the Sumter Family YMCA Turkey Trot will begin after 8:15 Thanksgiving morning.
Drivers are asked to use an extra helping of caution if they are out and in the area of the trot.
The annual 5K run/walk starts at 9 a.m. from Willow Drive behind the YMCA.
In addition to Willow Drive, affected roads include Winn, Cumberland, Purdy, Frank Clarke, Haynsworth, Salem, Stewart and Calhoun streets.
Roads are expected to be clear of trotters by 10:45 a.m.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
You should probably remind people that they can’t come down Miller from Guignard because of the bridge out at the Y. They’re going to have to come down Broad St to get to the Y once the roads are closed off!
Info on the person that in the trot race in sumter ,that had ambulance and ems called?
Being a Police Officer in a CALEA Accredited Department means you belong to an agency that is committed to following best practice standards developed by federal, state, and local law enforcement executives through comprehensive research. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations:
SPECIFICALLY, CALEA’S GOALS ARE TO:
