South Carolina State Constables Alliance
Grand Strand District
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

P.O. Box 1745
Myrtle Beach, SC 29578-1745

By Tom Reed - Past Executive Director

Serving the State of South Carolina

What a South Carolina Constable is and is not

A South Carolina State Constable is appointed by the Governor of South Carolina to assist in law enforcement throughout the state and should in no way be used to supplant law enforcement in any agency. The Chief of South Carolina Law Enforcement (SLED) advises the Governor about policies and regulations pertaining to State Constables; establishes training requirements, sets standards for conduct, prescribes limits for use of authority, determines suitability and fitness of applicants and enforces governing regulations.

A South Carolina State Constable is not a stand-alone law enforcement department. It is the purpose of the Constable to assist and augment local law enforcement agency personnel efforts. A South Carolina State Constable is required under S.C. law to preserve and protect the citizens according to the laws of the state and is required to respond to any actions that result in a crime.

A Constable must protect and preserve a crime scene until a regular on-duty officer, with jurisdiction, arrives to take charge of the situation.  A Constable may assist a department in matters such as traffic control, if requested, but should not take it upon himself to direct traffic simply if he perceives there to be a problem, for example:

• A South Carolina State Constable may only use his commission for its intended purpose. A Group I Constable may not use his commission outside the parameters of the agency the he is employed by, for instance.

• A South Carolina State Constable is a certified law enforcement officer and should always present himself in a professional manner. It is imperative that a South Carolina State Constable conducts himself in a manner that will not bring discredit to himself, his commission, the Governor, or the state South Carolina.

• A South Carolina State Constable may carry a concealed weapon as outlined in the regulations within the State of South Carolina only after successfully completing an approved firearms qualifications course.

• A South Carolina State Constable is not allowed to receive any compensation for services rendered; therefore Constables may not perform any private security work or private investigations.

• A South Carolina State Constable may not serve as a reserve police officer or any other position as a sworn law enforcement officer.

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