As a young boy, Jerry Merrithew would accompany his grandfather to the state park at which his grandfather was superintendent.

“I met many different law enforcement officers and I would sit with them and listen to them talk of their experiences,” said Merrithew. “I gained a lot of respect for the work they did and decided I would like to pursue a law enforcement career.”

After graduating from Berkeley High School in 1980, Merrithew bided his time until he secured his first law enforcement position with the Harleyville Police Department in 1985.