Trade magazine turns to Oconee Sheriff’s officer

A national police officers’ magazine, in a June article, turned down to Oconee Sheriff’s Captain Jeff Underwood for comments on a story about the circumstances in which law enforcement officers request back-up. Some cops worry about ridicule from other officers that they might not be considered tough enough. But the subject touches a nerve in Oconee County because deputy Bill Schuck died four years ago after trying to free his car that was stuck in mud. Alone, Schuck had turned a dirt road looking for a suicidal person. The deputy called his wife to report his situation, but said he was too embarrassed to ask for assistance. Hours later, Schuck was found dead pinned against a tree behind the front part of his vehicle as it rolled forward when the deputy tried to free it. In the Police Magazine article, “Alone Against All Odds,” writer Dean Scoville turned to Capt. Underwood and other officers from around the country for comments. Underwood makes it a point to remind road patrol deputies that he supervises that he has to ask for help from his supervisors as well, and if they are ever in a situation where there is a possibility that something could go wrong they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.