SC Department of Public Safety

#NationalPoliceWomanDay: How this former nurse and corrections officer found her purpose as an STP officer  ----- Written by: SCDPS Staff Member, Teddy Kulmala One thing Officer First Class Latonya Loredo hears frequently from the truck drivers she pulls over: “You’re the first female officer I’ve ever seen.” A two-year veteran of the SC State Transport Police, Loredo is hardly the first female officer in the division. But she is the first woman to win STP’s Officer of the Year Award, barely a year after also winning the Rookie of the Year for her class. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of such an honor when I won,” she said of being the first woman in STP’s 31-year history to take its top honor. “It hit me later. But it feels good. I was up against some great officers.” Loredo’s path to becoming Officer of the Year began in the nursing field, where she was a certified nursing assistant for 10 years. “After 10 years, I realized I didn’t want to be a nurse,” she said. “I’m going to try something different.” She then applied for the South Carolina Department of Corrections, becoming a corrections officer and working her way up to the rank of Sergeant over three years. Despite the stress of overseeing dozens of inmates at any given time on her own, Loredo enjoyed working in corrections. But, she didn’t like feeling “enclosed.” While browsing state law enforcement positions, she found herself gravitating toward SCDPS and specifically, the State Transport Police. Read the full story here - https://lnkd.in/e6rJkE75

SCDPS mourned the death of State Transport Police Officer Mark S. Reynolds as he was laid to rest yesterday in Florence. The funeral services were held at the Florence Center and graveside services were held at Elim Baptist Church Cemetery. Officer First Class Reynolds died on September 4 after he experienced a medical emergency that occurred during training earlier that day. He was the first State Transport Police officer to lose his life while serving the state of South Carolina. Reynolds dedicated much of his life to serving his community. He joined the State Transport Police in 2022, after serving as a firefighter for more than a decade. Officers, troopers, firefighters, and other first responders from agencies across South Carolina came to pay their respects to Reynolds and his family.

Angela Sparks, CALEA Accreditation Manager, and Donna Albert, CALEA Program Assistant, were recognized recently for their hard work in securing SCDPS’ ninth re-accreditation. Well deserved! Thank you for your dedication to this agency! To learn more about the agency’s CALEA accreditation, visit: https://lnkd.in/eCd9Nywy

The SC Department of Public Safety congratulates these newly-promoted Highway Patrol troopers and telecommunications operators: Trooper promotions Pictured from left to right: Corporal A.L. Blair, Troop 8, Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Unit; First Sergeant M.A. Franks, Troop 3, Post C (Greenville); Corporal S.M. Durrenberger, Troop 4, Post A (Cherokee and Union); First Sergeant W.S. Boyette, Troop 5, Post D (Horry); Corporal S.P. Knotts, Troop 6, Post A (Berkeley and Charleston); Sergeant D.M. Thomas, Troop 6, Post A (Berkeley and Charleston); Corporal S.K. Grove, Troop 7, Post A (Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell, and Hampton); Sergeant E.T. Haden, Troop 3, Post D (Spartanburg); Colonel C.N. Williamson, SCHP Commander; First Sergeant M.W. Thompson, Troop 8, Area Coordinated Enforcement (ACE) Unit; Lieutenant T.J. Luther, Troop 9, MAIT; Corporal A.M. Prince, Troop 2, Post C (Edgefield, McCormick, and Saluda); Corporal N.T. Pye, Troop 10, Community Relations, Recruitment, and FOIA (CRRF) Unit; Administrative Sergeant L.N. Poston, Troop 5, Headquarters; Corporal K.F. Small, Troop 5, Post A (Darlington and Marlboro); and Corporal B.J. Lewis, Troop 1, Post C (Lexington). Telecommunications Operator promotions Pictured from left to right: Capt. D.A. McMurry, TCC Commander; Shelley Jones, Assistant Telecommunications Supervisor, Blythewood TCC; Anitra Clark-Peterson, Assistant Telecommunications Supervisor, Florence TCC; Andria Dickey, Assistant Telecommunications Supervisor, Blythewood TCC; Laveetra Grant, Telecommunications Supervisor, Charleston TCC; and Colonel C.N. Williamson, SCHP Commander. Congratulations! Are you interested in learning more about a career with SCHP? Visit www.joinschp.com

The SC Troopers Association, in partnership with the SC Highway Patrol, held the inaugural Henry C. Harrison Humanitarian Award Gala on Friday, July 26, in Greenville. The ceremony recognized a South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper with the Henry C. Harrison Humanitarian Award, with special remarks provided by Governor Henry McMaster, SC Senate President Thomas Alexander, SC Supreme Court Chief Justice-Elect John Kittredge, and former Representative Fletcher Smith, SC House of Representatives. Congratulations to Trooper First Class Dejuan L. Warren of Troop 1, who received the Henry C. Harrison Humanitarian Award! The following is a list of remaining finalists for the Henry C. Harrison Award: ·        Lieutenant Russell Thompson (retired), Troop 3 ·        Corporal William K. Safford, Troop 7 ·        Sergeant Matthew Southern, Troop 10 The Henry C. Harrison Humanitarian Award honors the late Henry C. Harrison, a retired patrol sergeant for the SC Highway Patrol who was highly respected in his community and well known for his humanitarian efforts. After his passing in 2021, the award was developed through a joint effort between Chief Judge James E. Lockemy; Colonel Christopher Williamson, Commander of the SC Highway Patrol; Mark Gosnell, Executive Director of the SC Troopers Association; Sergeant Harrison’s family and many mutual friends, to celebrate his life and legacy. It recognizes a state trooper for outstanding dedication and selfless service to making a difference in the lives of others. Read more - https://lnkd.in/ej6YmhYB

Are you a GIS developer, looking for a rewarding career with great benefits? Do you have a desire to serve your community in the interest of public safety?   As an SCDPS geospatial developer, you'll play a crucial role in developing user applications and content for our GIS databases. You will work with and develop your team to take SCDPS GIS applications to a new level, enhancing highway safety and saving lives on South Carolina roads.   Ready to join #TeamDPS? Apply now! https://bit.ly/dpsgisdev https://bit.ly/dpsgisdev #gis #gisjobs #jobs #hiring #southcarolina

Are you a detailed-oriented team player, who has a good eye for research and records? Do you want a career with great work-life balance and great benefits? As a Freedom of Information Act program assistant, you'll play a vital role in researching, gathering, and preparing documents and information for FOIA requests and media inquiries. You'll do this alongside a close-knit team whose purpose is to ensure government transparency and compliance with state laws. Ready to join #TeamDPS? Apply now! https://bit.ly/dpsfoia #FOIA #freedomofinformationact #jobs #hiring #southcarolina

It's time! Vote SCHP here - https://lnkd.in/ejAR3HXk The national Best Looking Cruiser Calendar Contest has officially begun — and the SC Highway Patrol needs your help getting in the calendar! Show us your #SouthCarolina state pride! Click the link, vote for the SCHP photo, and share this post. Voting is open until July 29. Let's go, South Carolina! #VoteSCHP #americanassociationofstatetroopers #AAST #BestLookingCruiserContest #SCHP #FordMustang #mustangGT #Mustang #PoliceCruisers #F150

Are you a good communicator, who works well under pressure? Do you have a desire to serve your community and help those in need? As an SCDPS telecommunications operator, you’ll experience a rewarding career in a dynamic, team-oriented environment. We offer on-the-job training, so no experience is required. Plus, if you do have experience, you may qualify for a higher starting salary. There’s never been a better time to serve your community and work alongside the best at the SC Department of Public Safety. Apply now to fill vital positions in Blythewood and Charleston - https://bit.ly/tcc_careers

See flashing lights ahead? Move over. When you see emergency lights on the highway, remember — those lights represent the life of another person. And like you, they have families waiting for them to come home. Slow down and move over for emergency vehicles working on the side of the road. Giving them space keeps everyone safe. Let's protect those who protect us! #MoveOver #SlowDown #HighwaysOrDieways #TheChoiceIsYours