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right man to
fill sheriff void
The Columbus County Sheriff’s Department was in turmoil when the county commissioners appointed Harold Rains sheriff in 1989.
Rains, the state’s first Native American sheriff, died last week at age 76.
When Rains took over, the previously elected sheriff had been removed from office and his interim successor left within a matter of months.
Morale and leadership were non-existent.
Rains’ steady hand and calm demeanor helped stabilize the department and restored integrity to the badge.
Rains was approachable and open to ideas from both his deputies and from the public. After such a tumultuous time with the previous administrations, he was truly the right man at the right time to restore honest law enforcement in the county.