Sheriff P.J. Tanner

As Beaufort County’s law enforcement leader, Sheriff Tanner consistently and successfully anticipates the needs of this fast-growing and diverse community and remains steadfast in his belief that a law enforcement agency is only as good as the policies to which it adheres.

Since Sheriff Tanner started as a deputy, Beaufort County has grown considerably. Today, its population is nearly 200,000, three times the size it was in 1981, and it hosts more than 3 million visitors a year.

Sheriff Tanner’s 340-person agency — with its 245 sworn deputies and $32 million annual budget — is not only responsible for policing Beaufort County’s 900-plus square miles of road and waterway but for its emergency management and dispatch services.

During Sheriff Tanner’s tenure, the agency has maintained accreditations from CALEA, both in law enforcement and emergency dispatch services; established its own Forensic Services Laboratory, which includes DNA and chemistry sections; and prioritized its relationship with the community by embracing transparency, accountability and expanding its public communications.

Sheriff Tanner and his deputies dedicate themselves to ensuring that Beaufort County is well protected, so businesses can prosper, and residents and guests can safely enjoy its beautiful natural resources.

Over the past three decades, Sheriff Tanner sat on a variety of community boards, as well as state and local advisory committees. He also served as president of the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association.

He is married to attorney and Beaufort County magistrate Angela McCall-Tanner of Greer, South Carolina.