Law Enforcement
Community Affairs and Information
Chain of Command & Executive Staff
The command staff of the Charleston County Sheriff's Office is composed of Division leaders and key personnel who are responsible for the overall law enforcement services of the County of Charleston.
Sheriff Carl Ritchie
Undersheriff Tyrone Simmons
Chief Deputy William White
Chief Deputy Josh Cheney
Chief Deputy Lewis Burnsed
Chief Deputy Christopher Rosier
Major Scott Rywelski
Major Chad Barton
Major Jon Jacobik
General Counsel Edward Phipps
Paralegals
Communications Director Mark Ruppel
PIO Alexis Douglas
Animal Control #animal_control
Animal Control is specially trained to handle situations involving domestic animals. This includes the removal of stray domestic animals that are unleashed (in or near roadways), and the transportation of injured domestic animals to the emergency veterinarian for treatment (when the animal's owner cannot be located). They also conduct investigations relating to neglected or abused animals. Animal Control has the power to enforce both local ordinances and state laws related to violations concerning domestic animals.
Effective immediately, the sheriff's office will no longer be responding to calls related to calls involving sick and/or injured raccoons.
If DNR fails to respond, please call an agency on the Wildlife Removal List. These services range in cost from $30 - $100.
Citizens Academy #citizens_academy
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office is accepting applications for its next Citizens Academy. The 11-week course will highlight different functions of our law enforcement agency, giving people a better understanding of the tasks employees perform to protect and serve Charleston County residents.
Apply now:
For more information, contact Sergeant Bill Martin.
Contact
Citizens Academy
Sergeant Bill Martin
Phone: (843) 554-2488
Community Engagement #community_engagement
Community Engagement is responsible for informing the citizens of crime prevention methods to help avoid, prevent or minimize personal injury and/or loss of property resulting in criminal activity; and to reduce crime and the perception of crime in the community through target programs like Neighborhood/Crime Watch Programs. Though the responsibility for achieving the agency's community relations objectives is shared by all Sheriff's Office personnel, Community Engagement supports the efforts of community policing programs that provide educational solutions and directions through the interpretation and explanation of the provision of laws, rules and regulations as needed to combat specific crimes as well as to educate the public.
Contact
Community Engagement
Captain Alan Ali
Phone: (843) 554-2448
Email: AAli@CharlestonCounty.org
Crime Watch #crime_watch
Charleston County Sheriff's Office is committed to the task of reducing crime and providing a safer and better quality of life for our citizens. When neighbors organize to help local law enforcement with the community, it can make a significant impact on reducing crime and fear in the area for our children and citizens. To start a Crime Watch group, neighbors must determine if there is enough community interest. And if there is, contact the sheriff’s office about getting started.
To learn more, please visit:
Explorer's Post #explorer_post
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office Explorer Post 555 began in 1976 and has evolved into a very important part of our agency. The program is designed to function under the joint guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) and the sheriff's office. The purpose of this program is to promote social, recreational and community relations activities for Explorers in addition to the training and educational opportunities they receive in law enforcement.
Contact
Explorer's Post
Sergeant Steven Meade
Phone: (843) 958-2105
Email: SMeade@CharlestonCounty.org
The Explorer program is geared for youth aged 14 to 20 years old. Explorers meet on a weekly basis and these meetings are scheduled so as not to interfere with school. Explorers are required to maintain passing grades in order to remain active with the post. The training they receive in general law enforcement also prepares them for several yearly competitions they attend during the summer months.
Patrol #patrol
The Patrol Division provides efficient and effective patrol operations for the citizens of Charleston County in order to create a deterrent to crime, detect and apprehend offenders, and respond to the needs and expectations of the community. The primary functions of these patrols include, but are not limited to, proactive patrol oriented toward the prevention of crimes and collisions and maintenance of public order while fostering a relationship between citizens and the business community of Charleston County.
To learn more, please visit:
Contact
Patrol
Captain James Brennan
Phone: (843) 529-6217
Captain Scott Eubanks
Phone: (843) 529-6218
Susan Burnsed, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (843) 529-62168
Project Lifesaver #project_lifesaver
The Charleston County Sheriff's Office offers the Project Lifesaver program for citizens of Charleston County. This program is designed to aid in locating wandering or lost individuals with Alzheimer's, autism, Down syndrome, dementia or other cognitive conditions. This program is provided at no cost for approved individuals and their families.
To learn more, please watch the podcast video about our agency:
School Resource Officers #school_resource_officers
School Resource Officers, also known as SROs, are law enforcement personnel that apply a community policing philosophy within the school environment. Schools are their permanent assignment in order to proactively address safety and security issues. SROs are required to perform three vital roles in their assigned schools. These roles are as follows: law enforcement, law-related counseling, and law-related education. Through these roles, officers provide a service to the community by establishing themselves as a resource for teachers, students, and parents. This allows the program to provide a safe learning environment for children.
Public Sex Offender Registry #sex_offender_registry
The Criminal Investigations Unit is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Sex Offender Registry (SOR) for Charleston County. The SOR unit conducts and oversees field checks of sex offenders, ensuring their compliance with state law. The SOR unit registers one of the highest numbers of sex offenders in the state, often exceeding 800 convicted felons at any given time. The majority of those offenders are required to register several times a year. Registration hours at the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office at 3691 Leeds Ave. are Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9-11:30AM and 1:30-4PM and Thursdays from 9-11:30AM
To access the registry, please visit:
Traffic #traffic
The Traffic Unit focuses on collision prevention and saving lives through fair and impartial enforcement of all applicable S.C. Criminal Laws and Charleston County ordinances that are relevant to vehicular and pedestrian movement to include DUI enforcement. In addition, the unit also handles many special assignments, including but not limited to parades, dignitary escorts, special events, funeral escorts, and other public relations projects. Members of this unit are also specifically trained in all areas of collision investigation, to include traffic collision reconstruction. The unit also investigates all collisions involving vehicles owned and operated by the County of Charleston.
To learn more, please visit:
Sergeant Sarah Hake
Phone: (843) 529-5342
Email: SHake@CharlestonCounty.org
Victim's Advocates #victim_advocate
Victim / Witness Program
In an effort to assist victims of and witnesses to crime, the Charleston County Sheriff's Office has established a Victim/Witness Assistance Program. This program offers valuable information and assistance to victims/witnesses concerning their rights under South Carolina Law.
- Victim
- as defined by S.C. State Code of Law, Title 16, is a person who suffers direct or threatened physical, emotional, or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of a crime. "Victim" also includes the immediate family of any victim who is minor of who is incompetent, or the immediate family of a homicide victim.
- Witness
- is defined as any person who has been, or is expected to be summoned to testify for either the prosecution or the defense, or who by reason of having relevant information, is subject to call or likely to be called as a witness for the prosecution or defense, whether or not any action or proceeding has yet been commenced.
Victim's Bill of Rights
To the extent reasonably possible and subject to available resources, victims, and witnesses of crime are afforded the following rights under South Carolina Law, Section 16-3-1530.
- A right to be treated with dignity and compassion.
- A right to protection from intimidation and harm.
- A right to be informed concerning the Criminal Justice Process.
- A right to reparations.
- A right to preservation of property and employment.
- A right to Due Process in Criminal Court proceedings.
- Victims and witnesses who are very young, elderly, handicapped, or have special needs, have a right to special recognition and attention by all Criminal Justice, Medical, and Social Service Agencies.
Services Rendered
- Incident Reports
- Section 16-3-1535 requires that victims be provided a copy of the incident report relating to their case free of charge.
- Information
- Comprehensive explanation of programs and services provided by various agencies for victims/witnesses of crime, to include restitution.
- Referrals
- Recommending or obtaining assistance from other sources that are not provided directly by the program.
- Counseling
- Providing emotional and moral support to the victim during the aftermath of a crime.
- Personal Advocacy
- Acting on behalf of victims or witnesses to ensure that they receive appropriate assistance from Social Service Agencies and the Criminal Justice System.
- Employment Intervention
- Interact with employer on behalf of victims to explain time off from work due to court appearances and conferences with law enforcement personnel.
- Restitution
- Assist victims of violent crimes in completing the appropriate forms for compensation from State Assistance Programs.
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