| Abbreviation: | SCHP |
| Patch: | South Carolina Highway Patrol.jpg |
| Patchcaption: | Patch of South Carolina Highway Patrol |
| Motto: | Courtesy-Efficiency-Service |
| Employees: | 1100+ (as of 2008) |
| Country: | United States of America |
| Countryabbr: | USA |
| Divtype: | State |
| Divname: | South Carolina |
| Map: | SC - Highway Patrol Troop map.png |
| Mapcaption: | SCHP Troop Map |
| Sizearea: | 32020sqmi |
| Sizepopulation: | 5,118,425[1] |
| Legaljuris: | Statewide |
| Governingbody: | South Carolina Department of Public Safety |
| Police: | Yes |
| Headquarters: | Blythewood, South Carolina |
| Sworntype: | Troopers |
| Sworn: | 955 (as of 2008)[2] |
| Unsworntype: | Civilian members |
| Unsworn: | 180 (as of 2004)[3] |
| Chief1name: | Colonel Christopher N. Williamson |
| Chief1position: | Commander |
| Parentagency: | South Carolina Department of Public Safety |
| Unittype: | Special Unit |
| Unitname: | ACE/Motorcycle/K9 MAIT CERT Insurance Enforcement |
| Stationtype: | Troop |
| Stations: | 7 |
The South Carolina Highway Patrol (SCHP) is the highway patrol agency for South Carolina, which has jurisdiction anywhere in the state except for federal or military installations. The Highway Patrol was created in 1930 and is an organization with a rank structure similar to the armed forces.[4] The mission of the South Carolina Highway Patrol includes enforcing the rules and regulations in order to ensure road way safety and reducing crime as outlined by South Carolina law. The Highway Patrol is the largest division of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety and its headquarters is located in Blythewood. This department also includes the South Carolina State Transport Police Division, and the South Carolina Bureau of Protective Services.
The Highway Patrol has many responsibilities. The primary job of the rank and file trooper is traffic law enforcement. This includes traffic collision investigation, issuing warning tickets and citations for traffic violations, and finding, arresting, and processing impaired drivers. A state trooper is a sworn peace officer, and although their primary duty is traffic enforcement, they can perform other law enforcement functions.
On February 8 1968, SCHP officers fired on anti-segregation protesters on the campus of the South Carolina State University in Orangeburg. Three were killed and 28 others were injured. This event came to be called the Orangeburg massacre.[5] [6]
SCHP Commander
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 authority over any incident that would require a Trooper's response.
SCHP troopers 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 (although, their dispatch often does this long before they are on scene), tow truck drivers or SCDOT personnel. The SCHP files traffic collision reports for state highways and within unincorporated areas. The patrol has around 800 employees, of whom 650 are sworn Troopers, and 150 civilians.
Also see Section 1. Chapter 11 of Title 6 of the 1976 Code. This law provides extra information as to what entity has jurisdiction on emergency incidents.https://www.scstatehouse.gov/code/title6.php
The SCHP uses a paramilitary rank structure.[7] [8]
| Colonel | Commander of the South Carolina Highway Patrol. | ||
| Lieutenant Colonel | There are two Deputy Commanders, overseeing Operations and Administrations | ||
| Major | There are four Majors. overseeing Field Operations | ||
| Captain | A Captain commands one of the ten Troops. | ||
| Lieutenant | A Lieutenant commands a post or station. | ||
| First Sergeant | A First Sergeant is the second in command of a post or station. | ||
| Sergeant | A Sergeant commands a patrol shift. | ||
| Corporal | A Corporal acts as a field supervisor. | ||
| Master Trooper | A Master Trooper has served for at least ten years. | ||
| Lance Corporal | A Lance Corporal has served for at least five years. | ||
| Senior Trooper | A Senior Trooper has served for at least three years. | ||
| Trooper First Class | A Trooper First Class has served for at least eighteen months. | ||
| Trooper | The initial SCHP rank. |
Throughout the years of the Patrol, 51 Troopers have died performing their duty.[10] [11]
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Automobile crash | |
| Gunfire | |
| Heart attack | |
| Motorcycle crash | |
| Struck by vehicle | |
| Vehicle pursuit | |
| Vehicular assault | |
Auxiliary Trooper Program
Fatality Victims Memorial
Child Safety Seatbelt Demonstration
Trooper Public Speaking Program
The South Carolina Highway Patrol use many different varieties of marked, semi-marked, and unmarked vehicles, like many other law enforcement agencies in South Carolina and the rest of the United States. Most vehicles are a part of fleets, usually late 1990s to as recent as 2010 Ford Crown Victoria or the modified versions of the Crown Vic (as it is commonly called), The Ford Police Interceptor. Also used are 2007 to present Dodge Charger of modified LX and SRT-8 body styles, and starting in 2012, the Ford Taurus and Ford Explorer, and Chevrolet Tahoe. They also used Chevrolet Caprices, Ford Mustang SSP's, and Ford Crown Victorias.[12]
In 2017, the South Carolina Highway Patrol issues the 9mm Glock Model 17M.
Troopers were previously issued the Glock Model 37 .45 GAP and the Glock Model 22 .40 S&W.[13]
The last revolver used was the Smith & Wesson Model 66 .357 magnum which is a derivative of the Smith & Wesson Model 19