South Carolina Highway Patrol

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South Carolina Highway Patrol
Motto: COURTESY, EFFICIENCY, SERVICE
Established	1930
Strength	1,114 (2007) (910 Troopers) (204 Civilians)
Jurisdiction	South Carolina
Specialty Units	Aviation Crash Reconstruction Civil Emergency Response Team

The South Carolina Highway Patrol(SCHP) is a division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety responsible for enforcing the traffic laws of the state of South Carolina. Since the Patrols formation in 1930, the South Carolina Highway Patrol has enforcing the rules and regulations in order to ensure road safety as outlined by South Carolina law. It is the largest police agency in South Carolina with about 1,114 employees, of whom 910 are sworn Troopers, and 204 Civilians according to SCHP website.

[edit] Patrol Structure

SCDPS Deputy Director/SCHP Commander - Interim Colonel Harry A. Stubblefield

SCHP Deputy Commander - Lieutenant Colonel Melvin L. Howard

• Field Operations Region One - Major Bernard S. McDonald
  • Troop One - Captain Leroy Taylor
  • Troop Two - Captain Junne R. Jones
  • Troop Three - Captain Neal F. Brown
  • Troop Four - Captain Marc S. Wright
  • Community Relations Office - Sergeant Roger K. Hughes

• Field Operations Region Two - Major Fred K. Lancaster, Jr.
  • Troop Five - Captain Melvin Warren
  • Troop Six - Captain James A. Woods
  • Troop Seven - Captain Christopher N. Williamson
  • Troop Eight/Aggressive Criminal Enforcement Team - Captain C.J. Madden

• Administrative Services - Major Eddie C. Johnson
  • Troop Eleven/Headquarters - Captain James D. Connelly
  • Grants Office
  • Employment Office
  • Patrol Supply

• Support Services - Major Russell W. Stewart
  • Troop Nine/Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team - Captain James K. Chastain
  • Troop Ten/Insurance Enforcement - Captain W.S. Reid
  • Special Operations
  • Training Unit - Captain Darryl A. Kelly

[edit] Highway Patrol duties

South Carolina Highway Patrol Dodge Charger

The agency has specific jurisdiction over all South Carolina state highways, U.S. Highways, Interstate highways in the state and all public roads. Local city police or the counties sheriff's department having a contract with an incorporated city have responsibility to investigate and enforce traffic laws in incorporated cities. However, the SCHP can still enforce traffic laws on any public road anywhere in the state regardless if it is in an incorporated or unincorporated city. SCHP has seniority any incident that would require a Troopers response.

SCHP officers are responsible for investigating and disposing of car accidents, debris, dead animals and other impediments to the free flow of traffic. They are often the first government officials at the scene of an accident (or obstruction), and in turn summon EMS/Fire, tow truck drivers or SCDOT personnel. The SCHP files traffic collision reports for state highways and within unincorporated areas.

[edit] Rank Structure

Title	Insignia
Colonel
Lieutenant Colonel
Major
Captain
Lieutenant
First Sergeant
Sergeant
Corporal
Lance Corporal
Senior Trooper
Trooper First Class
Trooper
Trooper Trainee

[edit] Specialized Units

• The Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT): investigates complicated vehicle crashes, using state-of-the-art technology and analysis to reconstruct the scene.

• The Civil Emergency Response Team (CERT): responds to civil emergencies using specialized training, tactics and equipment.

• The ACE (Aggressive Criminal Enforcement) Team: works specifically to curtail trafficking and transportation of illegal drugs on South Carolina roadways and includes the K-9 Corps, which assists in tracking drugs. Also includes the Motorcycle Unit, and Safety Improvement Team.

• The Telecommunications Centers: work dispatching troopers to incident scenes and assist the public with emergency calls.

• The Insurance Enforcement Unit: works closely with the Department of Motor Vehicles to identify uninsured drivers and take them off the highways.

• Community Relations Office: includes uniformed troopers and civilian staff around the state dedicated to educating the public and media about the Highway Patrol and highway safety.

• Governor’s Security Detail: works with the State Law Enforcement Division to provide security for the South Carolina Governor and his family.

• Emergency Management Unit: monitors emergency traffic issues and coordinates hurricane evacuation efforts

[edit] Demographics^[1]

• Male: 97%
• Female: 3%

• White: 85%
• African-American/Black: 14%
• Asian: 1%

[edit] In the line of duty

Throughout the 71 years of the Patrol, 47 Troopers have died performing their duty. ^{[2] [3]}

[edit] Special Programs

Auxiliary Trooper Program

• Auxiliary Troopers assist highly-trained, seasoned state troopers in enforcement support on daily patrols; to assist with traffic and crowd control at special events; and provide support during natural disasters such as hurricanes.
• Auxiliary Troopers receive more than 130 hours of training for certification by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
• To maintain auxiliary status, the Auxiliary Trooper serves minimum of 20 hours per month or 60 hours each quarter of the calendar year.

Fatality Victims Memorial

• The Fatality Victims Memorial is a website that families of those persons killed on South Carolina highways can put information about their loved ones.

Child Safety Seatbelt Demonstration

Trooper Public Speaking Program

[edit] See also

South Carolina Portal

• List of law enforcement agencies in South Carolina
• State police
• State patrol
• Highway patrol
• Mark H. Coates Highway

[edit] References

1. ^ http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/lemas00.pdf U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers
2. ^ http://www.schp.org/in_memory.asp SCHP Memorial
3. ^ The Officer Down Memorial Page http://www.odmp.org/agency/3610-south-carolina-highway-patrol-south-carolina

[edit] External links

• South Carolina Highway Patrol Website
• South Carolina Troopers Association