| South Carolina Highway Patrol |
Article Index for South Carolina |
Website Links For South Carolina |
Information AboutSouth Carolina Highway Patrol |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL | |
| united states state law enforcement agencies | |
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is a division of the South Carolina Department Of Public Safety responsible for enforcing the traffic laws of the state of South Carolina . MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the South Carolina Highway Patrol is to provide equitable service and protection, uphold the laws of the constitutions of the United States and the State of South Carolina in order to promote a safe and secure environment for the public. The personnel of the South Carolina State Highway Patrol recognize that to achieve our mission, policies and programs must be developed that allow us to:
HISTORY The South Carolina Highway Patrol was formed in 1930 to enforce newly enacted laws governing the use of motor vehicles in the state. This new agency began with 69 men, including a Captain, an Assistant Captain, 11 License Inspectors, 7 Lieutenants and 49 Patrolmen. Each Trooper was issued a badge, gun, uniform, motorcycle and summons book. They were given no formal training and only a few verbal instructions. They began patrolling the 5,991 miles of SC highways at that time. In 1932, patrolmen received formal training for the first time. The first patrol class was held at Fort Jackson Army Base. The training was three months long. Still growing, in 1934 the patrol was appointed a traffic engineer and a fingerprint expert. By 1937 the Patrol had over 90 members, 70 which were patrolmen. Motorcycles had gradually been replaced by automobiles and by the end of 1937 there were no motorcycles on the Patrol. The Patrol would not see police motorcycles again for 57 years. The Patrol continued to grow and expand its duties at a rapid rate until 1941 and World War II. The war effort called upon many patrolmen, and gas rationing brought most motor vehicle traffic to a halt. Activity of the Patrol was curtailed during the next four years as emphasis was placed on national defense. At the end of World War II, the state was faced with phenomenal vehicle registration growth and highway travel. This growth brought forth the need for increased traffic enforcement. In 1947 patrol cars were equipped with two-way radios. The Patrol Training School was streamlined to eight weeks. In the beginning, the Patrol was a part of the Motor Vehicle Division under the SC Highway Department. As the Patrol grew in size and responsibility, it was deemed that the Patrol could function more efficiently as a separate division. In 1953 the Highway Patrol became its own division. In 1972 the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy opened. Since that time, all recruits are trained there. Today the Patrol School is 20 weeks long. 1977 saw the first eight women apply to the patrol and attend the Academy. Seven graduated and were assigned to Patrol duty throughout the state. The Legislature in 1978 passed a law for a uniform and patrol car paint scheme to be used exclusively and solely by the Patrol. In 1993 the Department of Public Safety was created under government restructuring. The Highway Patrol was placed under DPS to promote efficiency and cost effectiveness. ORGANIZATION The South Carolina Highway Patrol is South Carolina’s largest law enforcement agency with more than 1,110 uniform and civilian personnel including uniformed officers, telecommunications officers and civilian personnel dedicated to highway safety and eliminating the flow of illegal narcotics on the state’s 66,000 miles of highways. About 900 troopers patrol S.C. highways in seven geographic Troops throughout the state. State troopers undergo 19 weeks of intensive training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy before beginning their law enforcement careers. The SC Highway Patrol uses a variety of vehicles, including the marked, semi-marked and unmarked cars, high-performance cars, motorcycles and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with mobile communications systems and computers as well as in-car cameras. Troopers are issued .40 caliber Glock model 22 pistols and are issued soft body armor. They are well quipped with modern weaponry, communications and safety equipment. Patrol Structure SCDPS Deputy Director/SCHP Commander - Colonel Russell F. Roark, III SCHP Deputy Commander - Lieutenant Colonel Harry A. Stubblefield
Rank Structure SPECIALIZED UNITS
DEMOGRAPHICS
Link Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics, 2000: Data for Individual State and Local Agencies with 100 or More Officers IN THE LINE OF DUTY Throughout the 71 years of the Patrol, 46 Troopers have died performing their duty. Of that number, eighteen were killed in either motorcycle or automobile accidents, and two were struck by vehicles. Further, six were killed in vehicle pursuits or vehicular assault, 18 by gunfire and one Trooper died by a heartattack and another by stabbing. In the Line of Duty Deaths SCHP Memorial SPECIAL PROGRAMS Auxiliary Trooper Program
Fatality Victims Memorial
Child Safety Seatbelt Demonstration Trooper Public Speaking Program SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
|
|