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Two Upstate South Carolina deputies have returned to the private sector after a booze-fueled weekend ended in handcuffs.
In a video posted to the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) Facebook page, Sheriff Tommy Blankenship confirmed the firings, adding both deputies were arrested for public intoxication while “outside of this state.”
“As soon as this information came to my attention,” Blankenship said, “both deputies were placed on unpaid administrative suspension while our Office of Professional Standards conducted their internal investigation.”
That investigation concluded Tuesday (September 22, 2026), according to Blankenship, resulting in the swift termination of both deputies for “violation of agency policy.”
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“Let me be clear,” Blankenship continued, “Being a deputy sheriff is more than just wearing a badge, carrying a gun and having the authority that comes with the job.”
While Blankenship was forthcoming about the firings, he did not say whether their policy violations involved misconduct, a determination that would effectively strip them of their law enforcement certifications.
He further withheld their identities in his Wednesday announcement, a standard operating procedure that could make it easier for them to land jobs at other law enforcement agencies, provided their certifications are not revoked.
Sources, however, were more forthcoming...
Internal emails provided to FITSNews indicate the now-ousted deputies are Nikki Holliday and Corey Baker — an engaged couple who remain listed as K-9 handlers on PCSO’s website.
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RELATED | DEPUTY ‘FORGETS’ HANDGUN IN QUIKTRIP BATHROOM
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If Holliday’s name sounds familiar, that’s because she’s the same PCSO deputy who made headlines in April 2024 for leaving her Glock 17 handgun in the bathroom of a QuikTrip.
As FITSNews exclusively reported at the time, a child later found her handgun and took it to her mother. The mother’s boyfriend later tossed the firearm off U.S. 123.
Authorities located the gun five days later, according to records obtained by FITSNews.
Holliday was written up for her role in the 2024 incident and later served a three-day suspension at the discretion of her supervisor.
This story may be updated.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
Andrew Fancher is a Lone Star Emmy Award–winning journalist from Dallas, Texas. He joined FITSNews in 2023 after leaving an NBC affiliate, where he served as on-air talent. His reporting focuses on public corruption in South Carolina, with an emphasis on law enforcement misconduct and abuse of power.
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