22-05-2025
‘I don't blame him': McColl's police chief candidate backs out
MCCOLL, S.C. (WBTW) — After McColl Mayor Robert Outlaw announced Billy Stubbs as the town's new chief on Monday, the new appointee said on Wednesday that he will no longer be accepting the position.
Stubbs was on the town's police force from March 2011 until July 2020 and has worked for the Marlboro County Sheriff's Office since January 2021, according to employment records from the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.
'Due to some issues that have arisen, I will not be accepting the chief position,' Stubbs said in a Facebook post. 'I try to be a man of my word but expect others to do the same. I want to thank Robert Outlaw for the support and consideration for the job, and with heavy heart I have to rescind my employment for the chief position. I will always do anything I can for the town and the citizens that I love.'
Outlaw responded via Facebook Thursday morning, saying, 'Wow!!! I'm really heartbroken on this one. To the citizens of McColl, as your mayor, everything was worked out. I was so excited Mr. Stubbs was coming to be our chief. But once again, two councilmen made sure Robert Outlaw didn't get what he wanted.'
'I'm tired of people smiling in my face and putting a knife in my back,' he continued. 'This is like the third or fourth time our two councilmen have made sure I didn't get what I thought was best for this town. It took me forever to even get the police department in the 2025 budget. Honestly, this is twice that the same councilman has gave Mr. Stubbs cold feed and honestly I don't blame him for not coming to work for us. But that being said, there's a good police chief out there and I'm not giving up till I find him or her.'
Outlaw made the initial announcement on Monday, saying, 'After 74 long days being your mayor . . . I'm so happy to announce Billy Stubbs has accepted. His starting date will be June 9th. It's been [a long] journey.'
Stubbs would have replaced former chief Bob Hale, who, along with the rest of the department, resigned in November 2024. Less than a week later, former Mayor George Garner died in a two-vehicle crash.
Count on News13 for updates.
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Jordan White is a Digital Producer at News13. She joined the News13 team in August 2024. Jordan, a Myrtle Beach native, graduated from St. James High School in Murrells Inlet and is a graduate of Coker University. Follow Jordan on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.
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