Seibles: I Thank God for Blessing my Law Enforcement Career
WINNSBORO – John Seibles, Chief of the Winnsboro Public Safety Department, resigned his post Tuesday afternoon after 47 years in law enforcement in Fairfield County.
In a letter to Town Manager Jason Taylor, Seibles wrote, “I have enjoyed serving the citizens of the Town of Winnsboro, the dedicated Law Enforcement Officers of the department and the faithful volunteers who have devoted their time and service to the department. I will now have the opportunity to be of greater service to Him. I will continue to pray for the success of the Town in its future endeavors.”
His resignation is effective Sept. 6, 2022.
“I’ve enjoyed working with Chief Seibles,” Taylor told The Voice. “We thank him for his service and all that he’s done for the Town while serving as Chief. We certainly wish him well in his retirement and future endeavors.”
“I want to thank you, Chief Seibles, for your dedicated service to the Town of Winnsboro. May you receive the greatest of blessings on your new journey,” Winnsboro Mayor John McMeekin added.
Taylor said he would immediately begin trying to identify and name an interim chief.
“Then, we’ll move forward in a search for a permanent chief,” Taylor said.
Seibles was appointed interim chief in October, 2016 after his predecessor Freddy Lorick, Sr. was arrested in a prostitution sting in Columbia.
Don Wood, who was then Winnsboro Town Manager, hired Seibles for the permanent position on March 23. 2017
“I had applied for the position and, you know, it’s a small town and you hear little rumors, but the confirmation came and I guess I was not necessarily that surprised, but kind of, sort of,” Seibles told The Voice at the time.
Seibles’ career in law enforcement began in the Fairfield County Department of Corrections and included a stint with the Town of Winnsboro from 1978-1982 and later with the Fairfield County Sheriff’s office. He also served 10 years as Director of the Fairfield County Detention Center and after his retirement he returned to the Winnsboro Police Department in 2003 as a School Resource Officer.