Beaufort Co. sheriff talks 28-year run as sheriff, things still working on before last day in 2027

BEAUFORT COUNTY, S.C. (WTOC) - South Carolina’s election season officially got underway on Monday as candidates can begin filing for office.

One of the most closely watched races in Beaufort County will be for sheriff, after Sheriff P.J. Tanner told staff late last week that he will not seek re-election.

“There is nothing about me retiring that has anything to do with me personally, like health or any of those things. It’s just the right decision to make at the right time. You’ve got to make the decision sometime,” Tanner said.

Tanner began his career with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office in 1981. Looking back over more than four decades in law enforcement, he said he has served in nearly every role.

“The only job I have never had within the Sheriff’s Office or law enforcement is that I have never been a school resource officer,” he said.

A long run in office

Tanner first ran for sheriff in 1994 but lost. He returned in 1998, won, going on to win six more elections.

“Honestly, there are days that it seems like I just started this career a couple of months ago because I love it as much today as I did the first day I started,” he said.

During his tenure, Tanner said the agency has undergone major changes, from new employee salary and compensation plans to ,advances in science and technology.

‘Big shoes to fill’ for the next sheriff

With the next election cycle now underway, Tanner said he expects the next sheriff to continue moving the department forward.

“The next sheriff, who takes office and runs this organization, is going to have shoes to fill—and my expectation is for those shoes to be filled,” he said.

Even with retirement on the horizon, Tanner said he still has work he wants to complete or push forward before leaving office on Jan. 5, 2027.

Among the projects he highlighted:

• A Law Enforcement Center project that would bring all Sheriff’s Office entities under one roof.
• Gap insurance that would provide benefits to county employees who retire before age 65 after serving the county for 30 years.

“Work has not slowed. We’re actually picking up pace on a couple of things, but a couple of projects that I think are extremely important to this county, I think will see some resolve on those just in a couple of months,” Tanner said.

Endorsement won’t come until after filing closes

Tanner said he does not plan to publicly endorse a successor until after the filing period ends.

However, he did offer some advice to people considering the role.

“Don’t come to this office seeking this office with an ego. You need to check that ego right now because if you come here wanting a title, sheriff, then you want it for the wrong reasons.”

Candidate filing runs through March 30.