Isle of Palms Winter/Spring 2019-20

19 www.IsleOfPalmsMagazine.com | www.ILoveIOP.com | www.IOPmag.com robbery suspects and working in special operations – wherein he started the Fugitive Team, tracking down anyone from shoplifters to murderers running from the police. He rose through the ranks, and for the last seven years, Cornett served as Springdale chief of police, dealing with drug trafficking, human trafficking, armed robberies, assaults and more. Amidst a thrilling career, a calmer life beckoned the 36-year-old and his family – especially his coast-loving wife who was born in Beaufort. “Isle of Palms is a great change of pace,” laughed Cornett, father to four young boys. “I used to get calls on a Saturday night about armed robberies or assaults, but now it’s parking problems on Palm Boulevard.” That’s not to say that there aren’t larger crimes taking place on the island. In fact, the biggest challenge Cornett currently faces in his new role is navigating how to communicate with the residents about the crimes on the island and the work the police officers are doing – without hurting tourism. “Since I’ve been here, our police officers have made cases involving ecstasy, pills being sold, DUIs. Just because we’re an island doesn’t mean we don’t have that. It’s inevitable wherever you go,” Cornett said. “What it comes down to is a lack of knowledge of what’s been done. It’s a hard balance because we are a tourist destination, so I can’t really advertise the drug and gun cases on social media because we’ll drive away our tourists. And that hurts our economy.” The best way to communicate those stats, Cornett believes, is through community meetings. More than anything, he wants open dialogue and feedback on the police department from residents and internal staff alike. Upon taking office, one of the first tasks Cornett initiated was asking officers to submit a survey on what they feel the department is doing right, as well as wrong, and to suggest an idea they’d implement if they were chief. “We’ve had a lot of positive input from the staff, and a lot of positive opportunities. Some of the processes about how we hire folks – we’ve revamped that. There was low morale when I got here, so we’re trying to build that up,” Cornett shared. The department has updated the reporting process and streamlined workloads, joined NextDoor and redesigned their badges, which Chief Cornett sees as an ideal “rebranding” opportunity. “There’s a lot going on that keeps me excited,” Cornett said, from repairing police cars to helping the aquarium release turtles back into the ocean – a thrill for someone who had an interest in zoology before acquiring a degree in criminal justice. “I didn’t grow up wanting to be a police officer by any means. I don’t know what I wanted to do. I grew up in a bad home, in and out of foster care. The last thing on my mind was to be a police officer,” Cornett admitted. He attended military college and joined the National Guard, but when he was accepted to the police department, he “fell in love” working in various areas including hostage negotiation. “Learning to talk to people and listen is where it really clicked how important the role is between law enforcement and the community. That’s my favorite part, getting out there.” He continued, “I want our residents to know our officers, not just to see them drive by and wave, but to stop and say, ‘Hey, chief! How are you today?’ I want them to know I love to talk and will get out of the car and talk to anyone.” As a police officer, the occasions are rare that one’s a newsworthy hero saving the day. It’s the quieter moments, rather, where Cornett feels the impact. Years ago in Springdale, he spotted an elderly resident struggling to hoist gardening supplies out of her car and pulled over to help. “Next thing I know she’s got me planting bushes! A year later, her husband died and I was the first one to show up – I beat EMS, the Fire Department,” he recalled. The woman looked up and said, “I know you,” and hugged Cornett, a familiar face in a lonely, unfamiliar time. To Cornett, that is police work. “It’s not the sexy stuff on TV where you catch the drug dealers. I’ve found kilos of cocaine and arrested people. I’ve locked up gang members and put bad people away,” he says. “What stands out to me are those moments I spend with residents where we connect. The service aspect. That’s what I love.” [ Feature ] Provided by the Isle of Palms Police Department.