Spartanburg County sheriff under ethics investigation
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright is being investigated by the state ethics commission over a decision to hire his son to work at the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.
The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Tuesday Wright had been notified by the South Carolina State Ethics Commission the state had begun an investigation into the sheriff.
The SCSEC said it would not confirm or deny, nor comment on any existing complaints or investigations.
In an interview, Wright said the investigation hinges on the hiring of Wright’s son Jared Andrew William Wright at the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office.
Wright said that while he did deputize his son, he is not who hired him nor will be be supervising him in any way.
“I didn’t hire my son, the staff that works here hired my son,” Wright said. “He went through every process that everyone else did. He’s very well qualified. He’s not the only part time person who works here.”
Wright said he spoke with the Ethics Commission before his son was hired by the sheriff’s office.
“I did speak to some people down there, and they told me I needed some documentation but I did verbally and physically make sure they understood my son’s not going to be treated special,” said Wright.
In a July 3 letter shared with 7NEWS, the sheriff told a captain, two lieutenants, two sergeants and the chief deputy, they would be Jared Wright’s chain of command and the sheriff was recusing himself from matters pertaining to his son.
“As a public official I, will NOT participate in any disciplinary actions nor be in any role of supervision as it pertains to Jared Andrew William Wright,” the letter reads.
The letter also said if Jared Wright were to face disciplinary action, the appeals process would consist of a review board of sheriff’s office captains.
Wright said, in the coming weeks, he will follow whatever the Ethics Commission asks of him according to whatever they decide.
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