Operations Support

Traffic

The Selective Traffic Enforcement Unit focuses on collision prevention and saving lives through fair and impartial enforcement of all applicable SC 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. The Motor Unit is a highly motivated and trained unit that is well versed in all facets of Police Motorcycle Operations. Members of the Motor Unit are all certified Police Motorcycle operators.

airsupport

Air Support

Chief Pilot S.Martray
Phone: (843)745-2297
smartray@charlestoncounty.org

The Air Support Unit provides a full-range of airborne law enforcement support to the Sheriff's Office patrol and specialized units. Also, as the only full-time airborne law enforcement unit on the coast of South Carolina, it routinely provides assistance to every local, state, and federal agency operating in the tri-county area. The unit is actively engaged in homeland security operations and supports Project Seahawk, a multi-agency task force, headed by the U.S. Attorney General's Office, which is responsible for security operations in the Port of Charleston.

It is manned by four full-time pilots and twelve collateral duty Tactical Flight Officers from the surrounding agencies. All pilots have a Commercial Certificate with Instrument Rating and fly at night using the AN/AVS-9 Pinnacle Night Vision Goggles. At all times, a crew is "on call" to quickly respond to a call for service.

The unit operates a 2012 Bell 407GX Helicopter used to support the daily law enforcement missions. Primarily, these missions include patrol, pursuits, fugitive searches, missing persons, drownings, overdue boaters, search and rescue, marijuana eradication, ship escorts, reconnaissance and photo, homeland security missions, and aerial backup during traffic stops, disturbances, and domestics. The helicopter has the following specialized equipment: Garmin 1000H Panel, Wescam MX-10 IR Camera System, Churchill Navigation Augmented Reality Mapping System, 2Color Monitors, Avalex Video Recorder, SAR Direction Finder, NAT P.A. Speaker System, IMT Microwave Downlink System, SX-16 Night Sun Searchlight, and Emergency Floatation System.

Marine Patrol

The Marine Patrol consists of a full-time Sergeant and three deputies. Ten other deputies are assigned to the unit on a part-time basis. The marine patrol provides port security, escorts foreign flag vessels into and out of Charleston Harbor, enforces all state and federal laws governing vessels, as well as assisting boaters in distress. The unit also supports the C.C.S.O. Underwater Recovery Team, and provides marine law enforcement support to other agencies in the tri-county area. The unit is also part of the Blue Lightning and SeaHawk Task Forces with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

For questions concerning marine patrol email us at marine@charlestoncounty.org