COLUMBIA, SC – Dillon County’s violent crime rate dropped 29.18% in 2023, according to the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Annual Crime Report released yesterday. Dillon had the fourth greatest decrease in South Carolina’s 46 counties after leading the state in the same category in 2022.
Dillon also dropped from first to fifth of counties with the highest property crime rate.
“This is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our law enforcement agencies, our court systems and our citizens,” said Fourth Circuit Assistant Solicitor Shipp Daniel. “There is more work to be done, but this is something our county can be proud of.”
The number of murder/manslaughter cases dropped from 17 in 2022 to three in 2023. Furthermore, there was a decrease in these categories of crimes: drug, robbery, aggravated assault, sexual battery, weapons, breaking and entering, vandalism, fraud, larceny and trespassing.
Statewide, South Carolina’s violent crime rate decreased by 5.8% from 2022 to 2023, meaning Dillon County outpaced the state average by nearly 25%.
The report also revealed that zero law enforcement officers were murdered in the line of duty in 2023.
The full report can be found on SLED’s website.
