- City of Charleston Police Department
-
City of Charleston Police Department 
Logo of the City of Charleston Police Department. Agency overview Formed 1670 Legal personality Governmental: Government agency Jurisdictional structure Legal jurisdiction Municipal General nature - Law enforcement
- Civilian agency
Operational structure Headquarters Charleston, South Carolina Sworn members 382 Agency executive Gregory G. Mullen, Chief of Police Facilities Stations 4 Boats 4 Helicopters 1 Website Official website The City of Charleston Police Department (CPD) is the official police force of Charleston, South Carolina. It is South Carolina's Largest Police Department, besides the state police, in terms of man power, with 382 sworn officers, 137 civilians and 27 reserve officers.[1]
Contents
Units
The department has a number of operational units, including:
- Traffic Patrol
- Harbor Patrol
- Canine Unit
- Mounted Horse Patrols and authorities
- SWAT Team, incorporating hostage negotiation, explosive devices unit and disaster response team
- Forensics Services Division
- Computer Crime Unit
- Victims Services Unit
Buildings
The CPD has 4 stations.
- Chief Ruben M Greenburg Justice Building - the CPD's headquarters and the dispatch center for all city Emergency Services. It also houses the city's courthouse.
- East Side Station
- Daniel Island Station
- West Ashley Station
The CPD also has authority over the:
- City Jail
- Police memorial at Brittle Bank Park (opposite the Justice Building)
Rank Structure
Title Insignia Chief of Police 
Major 
Captain 
Lieutenant 
Sergeant 
Police Officer/Detective 
Police Officer/Detective History
In the early colonial period, police protection for the citizens of Charleston was performed by the Town Watch, a paramilitary unit. After incorporation in 1783, Charleston formally established the City Guard, another paramilitary force. From 1846–1855, the City Guard was reorganized several times and finally emerged in 1856 as a uniformed police force under the administration of Mayor Porcher Miles. Prior to the close of the Civil War, martial law was enacted in Charleston, and the city police force disbanded. Civil police forces were revived and reorganized, however, in 1865 following the election of P. C. Gaillard. These forces served as a counterpoint to the federal authorities until the end of martial law in 1877. The election of Mayor W. W. Sale that same year marked the introduction of a solid city police organizational system of officers and men, divided between the main station and the upper station, a system that was continued by succeeding administrations. On 7 February 1888 a new station was opened at the corner of southeast King and Hutson Streets. In 1895 the State of South Carolina authorities established a metropolitan police and seized control of the organization from January 1896 to 30 September 1897, at which time control was returned to the city. In 1907 a large, modern facility was erected at the northwest corner of Vanderhorst and St. Philip Streets. The police department remained at this location until 1974, at which time they moved to their current location on Lockwood Boulevard.
References
- ^ http://www.charlestoncity.info/dept/?nid=19 Official Website
External links
Coordinates: 32°47′20″N 79°57′34″W / 32.78889°N 79.95944°W
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