BOWMAN – A rash of break-ins and petty larcenies kept the Bowman Police Department busy in November.

Bowman Police Chief Allen Kinsey reported the department investigated nine burglaries and five petty larceny cases last month.

The good news is that two additional officers have been hired for his department, Robert White, formerly of the Elloree Police Department and Anthony Bell, who was previously employed by the S.C. Department of Corrections.

“They bring a lot of experience and will be a great asset to department,” Kinsey said.

The Bowman Police Department had been short-handed since Officer Richard Rhodes, 54, was charged with misconduct in office following an Oct. 7 shooting incident in Orangeburg. The State Law Enforcement Division arrested Rhodes, alleging he unlawfully discharged his gun when he stopped a pickup truck that was reported stolen. He was released on $10,000 personal recognizance bond. A SLED warrant alleged that Rhodes provided law enforcement with false information during a criminal investigation, unlawfully discharged a firearm and provided false information while in authority, resulting in false charges being filed against another person.

The Bowman police chief reported at the Dec. 5 council meeting that Rhodes is currently on administrative leave as a police officer but remains on the town’s payroll as an administrative clerk for the Bowman Police Department.

“Mr. Rhodes is doing an outstanding job and has really turned the department around administratively,” Kinsey said.

In other business, Kinsey said the Bowman Police Department is currently working with the Orangeburg Department of Public Safety and other agencies to bring a gang awareness program to the town early in January. Kinsey said the program is geared toward parents to give them insight on what their kids are actually doing and how to recognize gang activity in the area.

“Citizens are coming to me every day wanting to know what all the gang graffiti stands for,” he said. “So, hopefully, this program will help with that problem.”

Resident Jody Pendarvis said, “We have a fine police force. They have done a fine job on capturing the person responsible for writing bad checks on my account” and for breaking into his residence.

Also during the meeting, Mayor Zelda Pelzer reported that Bowman resident Tyrone Dantzler is working with the town and other agencies seeking funding to establish a recreation facility in Bowman.

“He is looking to put together a committee and to get the local citizens involved,” Pelzer said. “What Mr. Dantzler is doing is so important, because in this area the youths’ time is so idle, and they find things to do – and most of the time it’s not good things.”

Dantzler said, “We are trying to attack the free time the youth have and put it to use and make good, productive citizens out of them. I am going to continue to work on this and try to make something happen.”

In other business:

n Town Clerk Yvonne Lewis reported that the town’s account balances as of Sept. 30 were: General Fund, $45,973.23; Municipal Fund, $25,800.10; Sewer Operations, $7,653.56; Sewer Revenue: $120,966.29.

n Pelzer reported that the Bowman Avenue water projects are nearing completion.

T&D Correspondent Randy Thomas can be reached by e-mail at rtevents55@yahoo.com or by phone at 803-290-3312. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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