Watson joins Lake City Police Department

By Bradrick McClam
Lake City News & Post Reporter
Published: September 4, 2008

Mike Watson has joined Lake City Police Department as a patrol officer, bringing nearly 12 years of experience in law enforcement to the job.
Since starting the position on Aug. 8, Watson said he has been learning the streets in the city and assisting on various calls.
“He is very knowledgeable about the law and will be an asset to the police department,” said Lake City Assistant Police Chief Bobby Williams. He said he has known Watson for about five years and Watson assisted the police department well when he worked as Police Chief of Scranton. Williams also said Watson enjoys working with children and youth.
“I live in Scranton and am very familiar with the people of Lake City,” said Watson this past Wednesday explaining why he joined the Lake City Police force.
Watson, 40, graduated from South Aiken High School in Aiken in 1986 and the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in 1992. He is a native of Aiken and said he became a police officer to help others and to insure the safety of all citizens and their property.
What he likes most about being a police officer is helping youth overcome obstacles and then becoming better individuals, Watson said.
Watson worked as a patrol officer with the South Carolina Highway Patrol for approximately eight years before spending a year with the Pamplico Police Department as lieutenant with the patrol division and three years as Scranton Police Chief.
Watson, who is a self-proclaim football fanatic, is the offensive and defensive line coach for the Florence Phantoms and has been in this position for two years. He also worked for one year as the offensive line coach for the varsity football team at The Carolina Academy and for six years as the offensive line coach for Aynor High School’s varsity football team. Watson has also coached basketball, soccer and baseball with different recreational teams in the community and surrounding areas.
He played football in high school and also played at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina until suffering a leg injury.
Watson said aspiring police officers should always treat others the way they want to be treated. He said they should be motivated to follow their dreams and be willing to display a positive attitude while working in the community.
One day, Watson said he plans to move back into an administrative position in law enforcement. He said he enjoyed being a police chief and wants to assume the position again somewhere.