Police officer helps put a little more bang into holiday revelers' celebrations

Claudia and Richard Duckett (left) have a laugh with customers at their fireworks stand in front of Fred's Discount Store in Gaffney on Wednesday. The nation's economic situation has taken its toll on consumers from the gas pump to the grocery store and some folks are finding ways to offset the fiscal crunch.

Law enforcement officials are no different, sometimes taking up a side job to help make ends meet.

"A lot of us do this to help pay our bills," said Cherokee County Sheriff's Office Detective Richard Duckett. "Every deputy and law enforcement official has had a second job at some time. But this isn't us trying to live above our means; we are trying to survive."

To help ends meet, the veteran law enforcement officer has set up shop in front of Fred's Discount Store in Gaffney hoping to give local residents the "pop" needed to celebrate the Fourth of July and any other holiday that might be pyrotechnic-worthy.

For the past eight years Duckett and his wife, Claudia, have sold fireworks at the location on Wilkinsville Highway. He was drawn to the venture after being told by several friends that there was money to be made in celebratory explosions.

"It's not a lot of money, but it covers emergencies and gifts for Christmas," Duckett said. "We rarely use it for other things like vacations. This money is to help with things we need."

Finding customers has not been difficult for the officer, with his stand becoming a hot spot (no pun intended).

"I love to educate people on what they are buying," Duckett said. "But they have to know fireworks are a good source of entertainment - not toys. They should be treated with respect."

Among those making frequent visits to Duckett's stand are his partners in law enforcement.

"We have to stick together. This job is so dangerous that many of us take our brotherhood on the job into our personal lives," Duckett said. "All of us jump in there to help out when needed."

He said sales have been brisk as Independence Day approaches.

He attributes much of that to the decision of many people to forgo traveling because of high gas prices and find other forms of entertainment this weekend.