The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office received a $4,137 grant from the Sumter EMC Foundation to acquire advanced thermal imaging equipment. The grant will fund the purchase of three handheld thermal imagers, batteries, and charging stations for the devices.  

Thermal imagers are crucial tools that allow law enforcement officers to detect heat signatures, enhancing their ability to locate missing persons, track suspects, investigate fire scenes, and identify potential threats in low-light or obscured conditions. This technology can significantly improve officer safety and operational effectiveness during search and rescue missions, surveillance activities, and other critical incidents. These imagers provide officers with an invaluable advantage, enabling them to respond more efficiently and effectively in various situations, ultimately enhancing public safety across Sumter County and surrounding areas.  

“The Sumter EMC Foundation is committed to supporting the brave men and women who serve and protect our community,” said Andrea Walker, Chairman of the Sumter EMC Foundation. “By providing the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office with these thermal imagers, we are investing in their ability to carry out their duties with greater precision and preparedness.”  

This grant exemplifies the Sumter EMC Foundation’s unwavering dedication to fortifying public safety initiatives and providing local law enforcement with the vital equipment and a means to safeguard the people of Sumter County skillfully and capably.