UNIFORM PATROL

Public Safety starts with providing order maintenance through the presence of uniformed police officers. As a consequence, the Town of Mount Pleasant’s most visible police service is that of the “Uniformed Patrol Bureau”. These officer’s functions are varied, and include detecting crimes “first hand”, responding to calls for service, and perhaps most importantly interacting with the citizens of our community to provide strategic problem solving efforts that are consistent with a “community policing” perspective. Because uniformed patrol officers maintain such high visibility, public satisfaction is based largely on how well these uniformed police officers perform while making these critical “first impressions”. Substantial growth in the Town of Mount Pleasant has impacted the uniformed patrol division in many ways. Police management must constantly adapt to insure that these “first responders” arrive in a timely manner and provide the professional police services that have become the cornerstone of the department’s reputation.

TRAFFIC BUREAU

The Mount Pleasant Police Department’s Traffic Bureau utilizes a complete team or “specialized unit” to specifically address the needs of motorists who utilize the Town’s roadways. Fundamentally, these officers seek to prevent traffic accidents and promote public safety by enforcing traffic regulations. Directly impacted by Mount Pleasant’s extreme growth, these officers are challenged with the task of insuring the constant and safe free flow of traffic within the jurisdiction. In addition to handling numerous traffic accident investigations, these officers provide specialized investigative expertise in serious accident reconstruction, police regulation and control of parades and other large events, and public safety information forums that educate citizens on traffic safety issues.

COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER

As police management juggles the ever increasing police service needs of the Town of Mount Pleasant, Community Service Officers (CSO’s) are utilized to handle calls for service and traffic support roles where a “sworn police officer” is not required. These uniformed (but civilian) employees handle numerous calls where police reports are needed, but immediate enforcement action is unlikely. The ability of a CSO to handle traffic accidents, and take initial reports on less serious “after the fact” incidents significantly increases the time that the department’s uniformed police officers have to accomplish their primary objectives. Additional duties of these employees extend into every area of community service, education, and crime prevention efforts.

ANIMAL CONTROL

Growing municipalities that are adjacent to, and expanding to include, portions of thriving rural areas must anticipate an influx of calls for service that are animal control related. The Mount Pleasant Police Department’s Animal Control Officers (ACO’s) handle a significant number of calls that involve both domestic and wild animal complaints. ACO’s often begin their shifts with “calls pending” and are an integral part of the department’s mission to provide comprehensive public safety. These uniformed civilians also provide investigative support and follow up regarding allegations of animal cruelty and neglect.

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

Attracting and retaining qualified and professional police employees is critical to the success of a modern police department. The Mount Pleasant Police Department’s Career Development Bureau recognizes that “training” doesn’t end upon the completion of basic certifications (sworn and civilian) but extends well into the career of each employee. Continuing education and re-certification are not only mandated by state and federal laws, they are fundamental to human resource development and directly impact the department’s police service delivery. An “in-house” training room and numerous certified instructors update and train department employees in the latest accepted techniques in a given field. Among other duties, the Career Development Bureau ensures that employees meet all standards that are mandated by the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Training Council.

CRIME PREVENTION

Preserving the Town of Mount Pleasant’s small community atmosphere starts with resisting “big city” characteristics that are indicative of reactive policing. The Mount Pleasant Police Department’s Crime Prevention Program seeks to play an active role in this pursuit. This bureau includes a sworn police position that coordinates a wide variety of activities that educates the community and in doing so seeks to stop crime by reducing the offender’s perceived opportunity to commit illegal acts. Neighborhood associations, crime watch programs, school involvement, and other public awareness presentations are the primary tools of this bureau.

MARINE PATROL

Communities located along the coast of South Carolina are tasked with providing public safety to citizens and tourists who enter waterways within the police department’s jurisdiction. While these waters are jointly policed by state and federal law enforcement agencies, the need arises to have watercraft personnel and equipment to mobilize municipal police officers. The Mount Pleasant Police Department’s Marine Patrol meets this need by utilizing volunteer police officers and certifying them in police watercraft enforcement and public safety techniques. Special events that attract numerous boaters, rendering aid to disable watercraft, and ensuring proper boat operation and safety compliance are all part of this bureau’s mission. Officers assigned to this unit do so on a rotating basis and are certified by the United States Coast Guard and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

SPECIAL WEAPONS AND TACTICAL UNIT (SWAT)

The Mount Pleasant Police Department recognizes that some incidents and/or high risk police functions require the utilization of a highly trained and closely managed team of officers who can handle volatile situations where the public’s safety is significantly threatened. Officers assigned to the Special Weapons and Tactical Unit (SWAT) are utilized on a voluntary, part-time basis and receive specialized law enforcement training for assignments such as handling high risk warrant service, building entries and barricaded suspects. Two (2) independent, fully operative teams provide around the clock availability for emergency response.


COMMUNITY ACTION TEAM

The community action team is a component of the Mount Pleasant Police Department and is supervised by the Patrol Captain. This team works in cooperation with the Uniformed Patrol Bureau and provides additional manpower to identified areas of police concern, surveillance, bike patrol, foot patrol, and covert operations as requested. These team members volunteer for this assignment, operate as both uniformed and plain clothes officers and work unusual hours as needs of the department dictate.