Hilton Head, South Carolina

Master Sgt. William “Billy” Squires has been terminated from his position as a deputy with the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office following an incident where he pointed a department-issued weapon at a group of teenagers while off-duty. His firing, effective October 3, 2025, came after an internal affairs investigation launched due to the event that took place on September 28, 2025.

The alarming behavior, documented on video and widely shared on social media, triggered a wave of outrage among residents of Beaufort County. Sheriff P.J. Tanner indicated that the incident demonstrated insubordination, as Squires refused a directive from command duty officer Lt. Craig Washington to undergo a breathalyzer test. Following his refusal, Squires was placed on unpaid leave and later suspended without pay, leading to his termination.

As part of the disciplinary action, Squires was stripped of his badge, service weapon, and service vehicle. Although he declined to take the breathalyzer test, Squires later admitted to consuming alcohol prior to the incident, raising further concerns about his conduct.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) has initiated a separate investigation to determine if any criminal violations occurred during the incident. This investigation may result in additional legal repercussions for Squires.

Squires had a personnel file that was described as “fairly clean” before this incident, with just a few minor car collisions and one unfounded internal investigation from 2016. A past complaint regarding excessive force during a traffic stop in 2021 was reviewed but resulted in no policy violations.

In the wake of this incident, Squires’ law enforcement certification has been referred to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy for possible revocation. The actions of Squires have raised serious questions about police-community interactions, especially concerning the use of force against juveniles. Sheriff Tanner expressed dismay at the incident, affirming that higher standards are expected from deputies at all times, regardless of whether they are on duty.

Residents are encouraged to come forward with any additional video footage or witness accounts related to the incident, which would aid the Internal Affairs Investigator in completing a thorough investigation.

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