By Betsy Finklea
A history of family public service led both a father and son to pursue careers in law enforcement and now both work for the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office.
Both Michael Barfield and Ethan Graves share a love of law enforcement, but they don’t have much interaction on the Sheriff’s Office due to the different roles they fill.
Michael started pursuing his career in law enforcement in 2002. Michael said his father, Glenn Barfield, was on the fire department, rescue squad, and rescue squad dive team contributing public service to the community through many avenues. Michael also wanted to find ways to contribute back to the community and has done this through law enforcement. He worked his way through the ranks and is now a detective.
His son, Ethan, has also chosen law enforcement as his way to give back to the community. In 2018, he began his service at the Dillon County Detention Center and just two years later, he joined the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office and now works as a road deputy. In addition to his father serving as a deputy, Ethan’s mother was a dispatcher and his step-father and brothers are involved in the fire department. Ethan says public service is “in his blood,” and this was always something he wanted to do. “I want to help people, keep the community safe, and bring justice to those who need it,” said Ethan. Ethan is proud of the tradition of community service that exists in his family.
Michael is proud of Ethan and all that he has accomplished in his career so far. Michael says it “means a lot to see Ethan come up” through the ranks, starting at the jail and getting promotions at the Sheriff’s Office. Ethan is currently a sergeant having been promoted in February of this year. Ethan would like to be a detective one day working in the area of narcotics. Ethan said he looks forward to coming to work every day.
When they are off-duty, they enjoy hunting and fishing together.
It is apparent that this father and son both love what they do and are dedicated to serving the public.
History of Family Public Service Leads Father And Son To Pursue Careers In Law Enforcement
