SWANSEA, S.C. — On October 5, Police Chief William Charlton and the department’s only other officer will leave the force.

Charlton said the town does not have the finances to keep the department running or to provide officers with the resources needed to keep Swansea safe.

“They don’t have the finances for, you know, to run a successful police department for the resources that we need to be able to run and keep the town safe,” Charlton said.

The department has struggled for years with limited staffing and a lack of funding to keep officers on the street. Charlton said requests for part-time help were turned down because the town could not afford it.

With no police force of its own, Swansea will rely on Lexington County deputies and the Highway Patrol to respond to calls. Charlton said

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