MONCKS CORNER, SC – It’s been one month since Chief Rick Ollic raised his right hand, took an oath, and stepped into his new position, heading up the Moncks Corner Police Department. He has come to work these past 30 days he says, “humbled and ready to serve others.”
Chief Ollic says during this time he’s been working toward getting to know his officers, learning about agency operations, and setting goals for the future.
“I’m looking forward to moving Moncks Corner Police Department in a new direction under my leadership,” he says. “It’s a culture change for the officers to go through to find where they are, and the direction this agency is headed.”
The police chief has set five major goals:
- Achieve state accreditation – He says the department will begin working on this goal this year, by evaluating the department, adopting new policies, and preparing new agency standards.
- Apply for a HEAT Grant – He says this is money that will be used in the fight against DUI, as Berkeley County ranks number one statewide for DUI-related fatalities.
- Sheriff’s Office partnership – He says having new officers train in a program with deputies-in-training will keep the officers near home and save money.
- Increasing officer salary – He says this is important to be competitive with other area police forces and for retaining great employees.
- Adopt a model of community policing – He says this has already begun during his first month and that officers are now getting out on foot and interacting more with the citizens they serve.
“I believe when our citizens leave their homes, they look to us to be the eyes to look over and protect their property. At night when they’re resting after a long day’s work, we’re out there patrolling their neighborhoods to make certain that we are giving them that sense of security,” Ollic said.
Providing a sense of security for others is something the chief has dedicated his life to in public service. He describes his new position like a “homecoming” — his career coming full circle. He started in Moncks Corner in 1984, as a volunteer for the Moncks Corner Fire Department. Then, moving over to the Berkeley County Sheriff’s office in 1986, where his time there spanned 29 years. Now he is excited to be back in Moncks Corner serving in this capacity, the top cop! Currently there are 28 sworn officers on the force, with some openings to be filled.
He attributes his heart to serve others, to his father. “Growing up with a minister showed me how he served others, congregations. That helped me tremendously wanting to be in service.”
But there’s more he enjoys in life. Chief Ollic lives in Bonneau Beach with his wife of 28 years, Cathy. They have two sons Christopher, 25 and Benjamin, 21. With a laugh, he talks about his favorite hobbies: golf and Carolina football. The lifelong Gamecock fan says being a fan is like watching “a work in progress.” Of course, he’s hoping for some great success in the future with his “work in progress” as police chief.
“It’s just a title, but the most important thing is to build as best I can with the employees of this agency, work closely with our council and our mayor to make this community better, but most importantly we work together for the common good of others.”
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