Creech named Lexington County’s top deputy

Lexington County Sheriff’s Department Detective Adam Creech heads a long list of people honored recently when he was named 2014 Deputy of the Year during the department’s annual awards banquet.

The Sheriff’s Foundation hosted the event at the Jamil Temple near Irmo where several department members and civilians were recognized for service to the community.

Creech was the lead detective in the investigation that resulted in last year’s arrest of Timothy Ray Jones Jr. in connection with the killings of his five young children in Lexington County.

Creech investigated a missing persons report that was filed with the Sheriff’s Department concerning Jones’ five children, but an ongoing gag order prohibits a detailed account of his efforts to obtain arrest warrants for Jones, who is awaiting trial.

“Adam is a young and energetic detective who will go far in his law enforcement career,” said Lexington County Sheriff Lewis McCarty. “Adam has a good head on his shoulders, and he keeps his feet on the ground. Adam knows what to do.”

Several other awards were presented during the banquet.

▪ Field Training Officer Carlos Rentas was named Correctional Officer of the Year, Dale Owen was named School Resource Officer (Pine Ridge Middle School) of the Year, and Sgt. Darren Wiseman was named Community Service Officer of the Year.

▪ Detective Brian Smith was named Investigator of the Year, Sgt. Tom Robinson was named Reserve Deputy of the Year and Sgt. Jesse Laintz was named First Line Supervisor of the Year.

▪ Correctional Officer Reggie Lighty received the Brian S. Mills First-Year Officer Award and accreditation manager Katherine Luvisi was named Civilian Employee of the Year.

▪ Dannie Novak was named the department’s Volunteer of the Year and Sgt. Connor Taylor was named Explorer of the Year.

“Since I was appointed interim sheriff last June, I have allowed Sheriff’s Department employees to do their jobs unfettered by anything or anybody, including politics and politicians,” McCarty said. “Our agency’s employees have risen to the occasion and given 100 percent. I am very grateful for that, and I am sure that the citizens and taxpayers in Lexington County are grateful for that as well.”

The Sheriff’s Foundation provides money for equipment, training and other items for Sheriff’s Department deputies that can be difficult to acquire through the governmental budget process.

This story was originally published March 20, 2015 at 7:57 PM with the headline "Creech named Lexington County’s top deputy."