Horry County Sheriff’s Office names new chief deputy

The Horry County Sheriff’s Office has a new chief deputy.

Tom Fox is second in command after Sheriff Phillip Thompson and will oversee general operations of the sheriff’s office, including J. Reuben Long Detention Center, officials said in a news release.

Prior to becoming chief deputy, Fox worked as director of J. Reuben Long Detention Center and will continue in that role until a new director is chosen, according to Sherri Smith, Horry County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

Paul Butler held the chief deputy position and retired in October, and Fox took on the role at the start of the new year.

Fox has been an Horry County Sheriff’s Office employee since 1999 and has 34 years of experience in law enforcement and jail operations. He was named “Jail Administrator of the Year” in 2008 by the South Carolina Jail Administrators Association, according to the release.

In addition to his duties as chief deputy, Fox will also serve as board president of the Horry County Sheriff’s Foundation, which provides college scholarships to those interested in law enforcement and or related fields.

Fox graduated magna cum laude from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and has a master’s of Criminal Justice degree from Command College of South Carolina at Anderson University.

He is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, graduate of the South Carolina Executive Leadership Institute and is a United States Air Force veteran, having served from 1976 to 1980, officials said.

Fox is married to Lynn Fox, and the couple have a daughter named Kaitlyn.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Horry County Sheriff’s Office names new chief deputy."