The Watchdog Report

By Comptroller General Richard Eckstrom

 

 

When it comes to providing value for dollars spent, very few public entities can match the South Carolina State Guard (SCSG).  A division of the South Carolina Military Department, the SCSG operates on a shoestring budget.

 

Led by Major General Eli Wishart, the SCSG has amassed a great record of service all around the state.  For example, the SCSC Security Detachment routinely assists local law enforcement agencies for free.  Various Color Guard Units perform military funerals all around the state and even pay for the costs from their own pockets.  And a recently formed  K-9 Unit does search and rescue missions for free.

 

This new K-9 Unit has already repeatedly proven its value.  For example, in Lexington County an Alzheimer patient walked away from his caregiver and after an initial search turned up no clues, the State Guard K-9 Unit was called.  Panic soon turned to joy as the well-trained search dogs and their handlers safely located the patient.

 

Not all assignments are happy ones.  In Fairfield County the K-9 unit was asked to search for the remains of a missing person who was feared murdered.  The search yielded the remains, the investigation continues and charges are pending.

 

Since the K-9 Unit operates entirely with volunteers, in both cases the taxpayer cost was zero.  State Guardsmen serve without pay and members of the K-9 Unit even donate the dogs, training, and equipment.

 

The SCSG is truly one of state government’s best values.  Members of the Guard are protectors of us all and proven watchdogs of the public purse.  So on behalf of the citizens of South Carolina, I want to give these watchdogs a well-deserved “attaboy.”