Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

AROUND THE COUNTRY

AROUND THE COUNTRY RICHLAND CNTY, SC. Richland County Deputy Jacob Eric Salrin died from a fatal vehicle collision that occurred on September 29th. RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. – The Richland County Sheriff’s Department announced Saturday one of their deputies died in a car crash while on duty. 23-year-old Deputy Jacob Eric Salrin was killed in a crash on Friday, September 29. Salrin was hired by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in 2022 and graduated from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy in January of 2023. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the crash occurred on Bluff Road. Salrin was the driver of a 2017 Ford that was traveling west when it collided with a tractor-trailer traveling east. Troopers said Salrin died at the scene. “As the Richland County Sheriff’s Department mourns the loss of their brother, we thank the community for their support,” deputies said. After Richland County Deputy Jacob Salrin died, his family and friends found themselves encouraging each other in texts to be more like Jake. That means trying to smile like Jake, laugh like Jake, be humble like Jake, work like Jake, draft 20 The BLUES fantasy football picks like Jake, eat bacon like Jake — the list goes on and on. “Through it all, be like Jake, and, of course, serve like Jake,” Chris Salrin said during his cousin’s funeral Oct. 5. Law enforcement officers from across the state crowded into The Meeting Place Church in northeast Columbia, where representatives from Charleston to Greenville and everywhere in between paid their respects. Salrin died early in his career. Originally from Springfield, Ill., Salrin decided to join the Richland County Sheriff’s Department in March 2022. He trained at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, graduating in January 2023. There, Salrin earned the Clifford Moyer Marksmanship Award, which goes to the highest-scoring shooter of each class. At the sheriff’s department, Salrin patrolled southeast Richland County, which was where he struck a tractor trailer attempting to make a left turn on Broad River Road. “Our brother was unafraid and a true guardian of the Lower Richland community,” Sheriff’s Department OFFICER JACOB SALRIN Chaplain Chris Hutnyak said. “Rest easy, crimefighter.” By Skylar Laird slaird@postandcourier.com Salrin loved his family, particularly his older sister, Allie Salrin-Zammuto, who was his best friend and biggest supporter, Chris Salrin said. Allie and Jacob were so close, it was rare to hear one name without the other. “Allie and Jake, or Jake and Allie, ranked up there with other famous duos, like Batman and Robin, Han Solo and Chewbacca, peanut butter and jelly — you get the idea,” Chris Salrin said.

The BLUES 21