WHEREAS, the citizens of South Carolina owe a debt of gratitude to the law enforcement officers of South Carolina for jeopardizing their lives daily serving and protecting our state; and

WHEREAS, as the state's chief executive and commander-in-chief, the Governor is responsible for taking appropriate measures to prevent untimely deaths and injuries to our devoted law enforcement officers; and

WHEREAS, the law enforcement community seeks to ensure the safety of its officers and continues to work diligently to this end; and

WHEREAS, in the wake of recent tragic deaths of law enforcement officers in the line of duty, it is necessary to examine and reassess issues of training, equipment needs, policies and procedures to ensure that law enforcement officers are able to fulfill their duties in the safest manner possible; and

WHEREAS, the state's coordinated effort is essential to enhancing the strategic plan of the law enforcement community at the local, state, and national level.

NOW, THEREFORE, I hereby establish the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer Safety Review Task Force ("Task Force") to coordinate efforts to enhance the safety of law enforcement officers in our State. The Director of the Criminal Justice Academy of South Carolina Department of Public Safety shall chair the ten-member Task Force.

1. The Task Force shall be comprised of the following individuals or their designees:

   Director of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
   President of the South Carolina Sheriffs' Association
   President of the South Carolina Police Chiefs' Association
   Director of the South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services
   Director of the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice
   Director of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
   Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections
   Colonel of the South Carolina Highway Patrol
   Director of the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center Southeast
   Special Agent-In-Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Columbia Division Office

2. The Criminal Justice Academy of the South Carolina Department of Public Safety shall provide staff support as necessary to assist the Task Force in carrying out the directives of this Executive Order.

3. The Task Force shall submit its recommendations to the Governor no later than May 31, 2002.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND AND THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, THIS 8TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2002.

JIM HODGES
Governor

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 7, 2009 at 11:00 A.M.