LEXINGTON, S.C. – Two members of the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department’s public information team recently earned a highly selective professional designation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence.
The Commission of Professional Credentialing met last month to confer the public information officer designation on Sarah Alexander and Carlee Hatchell. They are two of only 70 credentialed public information officers in the country.
The PIO designation program recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in seven measured components including: experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement and technical competence. All applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.
“The program uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate candidates seeking the credential,” Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon said. “The Commission on Professional Credentialing awards the designation only after an individual successfully meets all the organization’s stringent criteria, which Sarah and Carlee do in the outstanding performance of their duties for us every day.”
Maintaining the PIO designation requires recipients to show continued growth in the areas of professional development, professional contributions, active association membership and community involvement, as well as adherence to a strict code of professional conduct.
Alexander has served as LCSD’s digital communications coordinator since 2021. Hatchell, a former LCSD public information intern, has been in the full-time role of public information coordinator since 2022. LCSD’s public information unit is led by Capt. Adam Myrick, who earned the PIO designation in February 2024.