PICKENS COUNTY—Pickens County Sheriff Elect Rick Clark tapped Creed Hashe as chief deputy of the sheriff’s office last week.

Hashe, who recently ran for sheriff in Anderson County, said he is excited for the opportunity.

“I’m extremely excited,” Hashe said. “I relish the opportunity to be able join Sheriff Clark in his endeavor to try to move the sheriff’s office further and pick up where David Stone left off. We’ll make some changes that will positive for the community and the county as a whole.”

Hashe brings over 25 years of law enforcement experience to the sheriff’s office.

“I am thrilled that I could recruit Creed back into public service. There is no more qualified person that I know of for the job. His heart is in law enforcement and the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office will be a better place due to his dedication,” Clark said. “We have the same vision for a new generation of law enforcement and that is what a Sheriff must have in his Chief Deputy. It is also the vision that the citizens of Pickens County demanded in the Primary, Runoff and General Election. Combining his experience and motivation with the talent we currently have at the Sheriff’s Office, will serve the citizens of Pickens County well as we take the Sheriff’s Office into the next generation.”

Clark said after several conversations, Hashe was the obvious choice.

“I was very lucky to get Creed on board,” Clark said. “As soon as we started talking it was very obvious that we shared some of the same goals. His experience is going to be a tremendous asset for Pickens County.”

Hashe was the former Chief Deputy at the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office and is currently the Corporate Security Manager for Michelin North America in both the US and Canada. He started his law enforcement career at the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.

“The administration has been there a long time and they’ve done great things for the people in Pickens County,” Hashe said. “This is opportunity for some change and some fresh ideas. The election is indicative that the citizens of the county are willing to accept the opportunity to have some fresh ideas.”

Hashe was also the SWAT Team Commander, COBRA Response Team Commander, Director of Regional Training Facility and Senior Detective for the Anderson County Sheriff’s office.

While at the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office, he rose through the ranks to hold such titles as Lieutenant, Public Information Officer, Investigator, Asst. SWAT Team commander, and Commander over street level narcotics unit.

Clark said he will be filling a crucial position in Pickens County.

“His main goal will be fulfill the missions that I set for the whole department,” Clark said. “It is the crucial position in the whole organization.”

Hashe said he is excited to work with the current staff on new ideas and goals for the county.

“There’s a lot of talent that currently exists at the sheriff’s office in Pickens, and it’s not a situation that Sheriff Clark feels like he has to go in and wipe out the staff,” said Hashe. “It gives us the chance to take advantage of some great opportunities that come about with change.”