Detective Bob Mack of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department retired last week after more than 20 years of service to the department and with 18 of those years as a detective. His service, however, does not end with his retirement. Mack was sworn in Monday by Sheriff Steve Sheldon as a Special Deputy to the department.
“He’s always been a go-to guy, a hard worker. He’s relentless in his investigations and a nice guy,” Sheldon said of Mack, “Working with him has been a pure pleasure.”
As a Special Deputy Mack will serve as a volunteer and will keep his commission. He will also be able to maintain his firearms qualification. After 20 years, he still enjoys the work.
“I like the who-done-it; I like the challenge, the investigative part of it,” stated Mack.
He has investigated homicides, bank robberies, kidnappings, and much more during his years as a detective.
One case that stood out occurred several years ago when a local woman was kidnapped.
“She was taken at gunpoint and robbed. She was dropped off in Cleveland. We travelled to Indiana. We actually traveled a couple of different places to catch the guys,” said Mack, “She came staggering in here one morning and told us what happened. It so happened that it was related to an aggravated burglary that happened the night prior and somehow she got caught in the middle of it because she lived in the area.”
Mack said that every case has its own personality and value. He has had cases that have drawn out over years as informants proceed to come forward, the detectives find new leads, or someone confesses.
“We still have a couple of homicides pending that are numerous years old. Either the suspect is in prison on an unrelated charge or we ran up against a brick wall,” he said. That is part of what drives him to continue as a volunteer: the case files and records.
Mack will continue to work in more of an advisement role. A Special Deputy is require to work eight hours a month.
“I’ll be in there a lot more than that,” said Mack, There’s a lot of cases back there to be worked on. I just can’t shove them in a dark room and close the door. They’ve got to be followed up.”
As for retirement, Mack plans to do some fishing but said he is going to miss work. “I’m going to spend most of my time finishing out reports so the guys back there don’t have to and they can do the follow-ups and go out and make the arrest.,” he added, “It has been a good 20 years. The people here are all family.” We have a unique relationship. Everybody in this building is there for each other.”
Mack said his wife Kathy has been very supportive and understanding of the long hours he worked.
Detective Duane Kilgore will fill the void that Mack will leave.
