WAGENER — Lucas Grant, largely known through his role as a resource officer at Wagener-Salley High School, is Wagener’s interim police chief, having stepped into the role Sept. 19 at the request of Wagener Mayor Mike Miller.
Grant, also known as Aiken County’s Democratic candidate for sheriff in 2024, has a bachelor’s degree in science from Newberry College and described himself, in his candidacy for sheriff, as “a man of God first who loves to fish, hunt and coach softball” and as having “a passion for serving people.”
The school resource officer noted that his background includes years of service in Georgia as a division commander in the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office, with work in the criminal investigation division, road patrol, the jail, the gang unit, special ops, housing and the community service division.
“I have had the opportunity to learn from a great man while at Wagener, and I look forward to serving the community, going forward with our strong team,” Grant said, responding to his new role.
Grant succeeds Mark Warchol, who was fired Sept. 15 by a 3-2 Wagener Town Council vote, in the wake of a Sept. 8 council meeting with disagreement between Warchol and Miller about communication, transparency and the purchase, sale and equipping of various vehicles relating to the town’s police department.
The town’s emergency services underwent another major change in the past month, with Hendrik Swanepoel being selected as the fire chief. August also included legal action being taken against two of Wagener’s previous fire chiefs, on charges relating to breach of trust with fraudulent intent.
