Detective Zatch J. Pouchprom
Years as an officer: 8
Department: Bluffton Police Department, Criminal Investigation Division
What is your favorite part of your job?
Being able to help people and make a positive difference is the absolute best thing about this profession.
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.I knew that I had chosen the right career when I realized that I couldn’t wait to go to work every morning or every shift, and that has not changed even years later.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
Effective and clear communication between law enforcement and our fellow citizens is paramount. We want the public to fully understand our goals, objectives and intentions in keeping the community safe and keeping it a great place to live in. I would invite the public to look into and study the realities of law enforcement, which is quite different from its portrayal in movies and TV shows.
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
It would be my wish that more people have a clear understanding of the intense amount of training that officers go through on a continuing basis in order to do their jobs safely, effectively and in full compliance with legal and ethical standards and how committed law enforcement officers are to doing the best job we can and helping as many people as much as we can.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
“Zombie” by Bad Wolves
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I can be found in a chair at home reading or listening to audio books while I cook.
What do you love most about your town?
I love the spring in Bluffton. April-May is my favorite time of the year here. You can’t beat the bright sunshine, the flowers and green grass with an 83-degree temperature. Perfect.
Angela Viens
Years as an officer: 24
Department: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
What is your favorite part of your job?
I really enjoy the fact that every day is different, every day presents a new challenge, and every day I learn something new.
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.
My entire law enforcement career has been serving this community. I was 22 when I started, and my original plan was to work in local law enforcement for a few years and then pursue a federal law enforcement job. The first two years with the agency I spent on patrol. I saw and experienced a different side of life. I would say that two-year period was when I knew this career was for me. I loved it. Nothing was repetitive; I encountered new people every day, and I learned a lot about myself. I was happy to have a job that I enjoyed, and the pay really didn’t matter. Sheriff Tanner afforded me the opportunity to pursue my interest in criminal investigations, and I never looked back. The community, the camaraderie with my peers, and the relationships that I built through my work kept me here.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
We live in an area that makes members of our community and visitors vulnerable to a variety of crimes, including fraud, scams, and property crimes. The aging population is a regular target for internet and telephone scammers. Aside from car break-ins, internet scams are one of our more regular calls. Please don’t entertain phone calls or emails from companies that you don’t regularly communicate with. Don’t give any account or Social Security numbers over the phone. Always log out of online banking accounts, and never allow someone to remotely access your computer. The Social Security Administration does not solicit payments via telephone. The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office does not seek payment over the telephone to fulfill any court/warrant requirements. And my last piece of advice for the general public to assist law enforcement would be to LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS!
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
We are human. Every day we may encounter someone’s worst day. We are educated to enforce and uphold the laws of the state. We are trained in defensive tactics. We are certified to use weapons by meeting qualification standards. There is no training that can prepare you for the emotional responses we may have after some of the situations we encounter.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
I grew up listening to Motown and beach music with my parents, and I still enjoy that sometimes. I like some country, some classic rock, and a little hip hop every now and then. The last song that played on my music app was “Different Kind of Fine,” by Zac Brown Band, but it’s definitely not on repeat!
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I’m pretty routine. Monday through Thursday are work, gym, home. My favorite way to spend a day off is exploring and enjoying the waterways that surround our beautiful county.
What do you love most about your town?
There are so many things I enjoy. The sense of community is probably one of the things I love the most. As a lifelong resident and a law enforcement officer, I have seen tragedy and conflict in many different forms. Our community always rises above and supports one another in so many ways, and it’s awesome to be a part of it.
Amanda Bilbrey
Years as an officer: 2
Department: Bluffton Police Department, Patrol Team
What is your favorite part of your job?
Meeting the people in our community. We have such a diverse community. I have met people from all over the world that either have moved here or are visiting.
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.
My uncle was chief of police in Indiana when I was growing up, and I admired him. That is a big reason why I have always wanted to be in law enforcement. I took a different career path for a while, but when the opportunity arose to become an officer in my own community, I could not pass it up.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
Recruiting new officers. It is not easy to go through the hiring process, but once that part is over, it is so worth it! Once you are in, you are part of the family. In addition, it is important to maintain a strong community relationship by being a transparent agency. I believe our department does this very well. The public can join the department or recommend friends and family to join our department. If they are not sure if law enforcement is for them, they can schedule a ride-along through our front office.
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with us. Patrol officers spend most of the day in patrol vehicles, so having the opportunity to converse with our community members is one of the best parts of our day. We strive to create and maintain a safe community. Most of our interactions are aimed at education.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
“Way Down We Go” by Kaleo
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
Outside! Whether it is in my backyard hanging with my two rescue dogs and fiancé, or out fishing, kayaking, or exploring, I love the outdoors.
What do you love most about your town?
Bluffton always has something to do. My family and I enjoy visiting our locally owned restaurants and businesses. We are looking forward to enjoying as many festivals as we can this year! I also enjoy learning about the history of our area. There are so many historical sites to visit and explore in Bluffton!
Oscar James Frazier Jr.
Years as an officer: 9 Corrections, 7 Police
Department: Bluffton PD
What is your favorite part of your job?
Helping people in the town that I grew up in and being a positive influence in my community
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.
There’s not a single moment I can recall, but helping people that have had crimes committed against them, assisting injured people after collisions, being able to converse with young people who have aspirations of being future LEO’s are great feelings for me as an officer.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
Citizens generally associate police officers with arrests and citations. We have community outreach programs, officers interacting with the youth—many positive things associated with law enforcement. I believe the public having an open mind to be receptive of those things is good.
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
It’s far from easy. We can go from a positive community relations call to an accident with injuries to a violent crime in a matter of hours. We have to decompress and handle everything accordingly, but that’s a lot to think about with a lot of different emotions.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
“Paid In Full” by Eric B. & Rakim
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
I enjoy being with my family, working out, and playing softball.
What do you love most about your town?
Bluffton is home. It’s not the small quaint town that I grew up in, but there are still a lot of positive things going on here, and it will always be a beautiful place to reside.
Andres F. Florencio
Years as an officer: 23.5
Department: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
What is your favorite part of your job?
Helping people in crisis and solving problems. I really like being able to have a positive influence in people’s lives.
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.
It was during my first day as a field training officer. I was responding to a call and ended up assisting a victim who could only speak Spanish. The immediate sense of relief I observed on their face once they were able to communicate their needs left an impression on me. I knew right then I was doing what God had called on me to do.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
The biggest challenge facing our community is the negative perception some people have about the men and women serving as law enforcement officers. Because of the actions of a few, we are all put in the same category. We are not all the same. Most of us, 99 percent of us, want to do the best job we can, and we voluntarily risk our lives every day for our communities.
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
Most importantly, we are regular people and no different from the people we serve. Additionally, being a law enforcement officer isn’t just about investigating crimes and making arrests. When we’re on calls, we often encounter people who are experiencing really tough times, whether its financially, mentally or even in their relationships. We’re not counselors by training, but there is definitely an element of the job that requires us to listen and be able to de-escalate tensions.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
“There Was Jesus” by Dolly Parton and Zach Williams
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
You can find me spending time with my wife and kids. What I’m doing really doesn’t matter to me as long as I’m with them.
What do you love most about your town?
What I love the most about Hilton Head is the ability to spend time in the outdoors surrounded by nature. I grew up in Brooklyn, New York (“The Concrete Jungle”), and we didn’t have a lot of green space there.
Lieutenant Andrew P. Faucett
Years as an officer: 25
Department: Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office, Enforcement Division, Southern Branch
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is mentoring new deputies and seeing them develop and succeed as law enforcement officers.
Describe the moment you knew this was the career for you.
At a young age, I knew I wanted to be in law enforcement. This desire grew during my service in the Marine Corps. I knew my military experience would help prepare me for a career in law enforcement. Prior to leaving the service, I was fortunate to become a reserve police officer, and it was during that time that I felt I had found my calling. The daily challenges of being a law enforcement officer, the interactions with the public, and the opportunities to disrupt criminal activity sealed this as my career choice.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing our community in regard to law enforcement, and what could the general public do to assist?
It can be challenging to get the community’s assistance in reducing the number of property crimes here, which are on the rise. Most property crimes are “crimes of opportunity.” So, securing valuables by locking car doors would be extremely helpful in preventing theft.
What do you wish more people knew about the day-to-day of being an officer of the law?
I wish more people knew the extent of training that goes into being a law enforcement officer. A good officer must have a strong knowledge of criminal and traffic laws; be able to effectively communicate with citizens during a crisis or other stressful events in their lives; and be able to make sound, split-second decisions to protect the public.
Current favorite song you listen to on repeat?
I do not have a song I listen to on repeat, although I do consistently listen to ’80s hard rock and current country music artists. If I did have a repeat artist, it would have to be the greatest of all time, Stevie Ray Vaughn.
When not working, where can we find you? What is your favorite way to spend a day off?
When I am not working, you can find me either enjoying some physical activity at the local gym or hovering around my garage; there’s always something to do. Also at the top of my list is enjoying the local waterways, but it has been too long, so I think buying another boat is in the near future. Sometimes, though, I like just taking a break and relaxing in the shade with my aging pup.
What do you love most about your town?
I love our local businesses, the incredible local foods we have here, and the stunning views of the Lowcountry I see during my daily travels. A trip across any of the larger bridges in Beaufort County at the right time of day can reset your heart and mind.
