Cayce Police Department's new chief of police, Herbert Blake, said that he worked under a sheriff early in his career that just about required his deputies to wave at locals. 

That is the kind of small-town warmness Blake says he hopes to bring to the City of Cayce.

"It's not about me," he told the media during an Oct. 29 press conference. "It's really about the people I am privileged to lead." 

Hailing from Buncombe County, North Carolina, mere weeks after Hurricane Helene devasted that part of the state,  Blake said that he never thought he'd see that community faring with such vast destruction.

"It was like a war zone," he said, "we have to build relationships sometimes before we need those relationships. ... We have to make sure that our people are again prepared, trusted and empowered to do the right thing. And that's what I'm gonna do from day one to use every moment possible as a teachable moment to better prepare these employees to move forward in a time of crisis."

According to a press release from the city, Blake, a South Carolina native, served as the police chief of the Hendersonville Police Department for 13 years and as the police chief of the Loris Police Department in Horry County for seven years, but began his law enforcement career as a police officer with the Town of Ridgeland, S.C.

"Known as a professional and a leader in his field, Chief Blake has a Master’s Degree in Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration," according to the release. "Some of his advanced leadership training includes: The School of Executive Leadership at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration, the Police Executive Development Program at Penn State University; the Executive Management Program at Northwestern University, the Public Executive Leadership Academy at the UNC School of Government, a host of Command colleges with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, and the Trilogy Award from FBI-LEEDA." 

With family close to this area, Blake told the media that he and his wife of 37 years are excited to be here. They have five adult children and six grandchildren. 

Interim City Manager Jim Crosland said four of the five previous Cayce police chiefs still live in the area.

"Many folks are already seeing [Blake] throughout the community, attending community meetings, and he's extremely well received," Crosland said. "He's well received because of his qualifications. He's well-received because of his experience in law enforcement."