Just one day after being appointed chief of police, Officer Alex White resigned from the Summerton Police Department, citing “terrible work conditions” and placing direct blame on Town Administrator Mary Adger for the department’s instability.
White was appointed Chief of Police by Summerton Town Council on May 13. His appointment came after the retirement of former Chief Donell Dixon and a wave of officer resignations left the department nearly empty. The department’s only other remaining officer had already submitted his resignation, effective May 15.
By May 14, White had submitted his own resignation letter, effective immediately.
“Due to the terrible work conditions and the fact that it takes employees threatening to quit for Mrs. Adger to get anything progressive done with the police department,” White wrote, “I have decided to resign as police officer for the town of Summerton.”
White alleged that Adger “micromanage[s] the department in the [worst] way possible, when she has never been a police officer a day in her life.” He added, “I have [dealt] with lies and unkept promises for new equipment, promotions, and pay raises.”
“Throughout my time here at the police department I have personally seen multiple officers leave because of Mrs. Adger, including people that work at the town hall building,” he continued. “Mrs. Adger is a compulsive liar; she does not follow through with anything she says that she is going to. Mrs. Adger is the primary reason why the department has no Chief of Police currently.”
Despite his frustration, White expressed hope for the town’s future. “Summerton is a great town with great citizens that deserve the best leadership possible,” he wrote. “I truly wish the best for the town and the police department.”
In a brief interview Thursday, Mayor Keith Bowman confirmed that LeShawn Greene, a former SPD officer who was most recently sworn into the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office, was hired that morning as Interim Chief of Police. Greene is expected to begin work in Summerton on May 19.
Bowman said the town is continuing to accept applications to rebuild the department. He declined to comment on the accusations made against Adger in White’s resignation letter.
For now, the Clarendon County Sheriff’s Office will continue to patrol the town and respond to calls during the transition.
