13 S.C. law enforcement departments awarded more than $8M

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Thirteen law enforcement departments across South Carolina have been awarded more than $8 million in federal funds to hire additional full-time law enforcement personnel.

The money was awarded through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, according to a news release from U.S. Attorney Peter M. McCoy Jr.’s office.

Applicants were required to identify a specific crime or disorder problem and explain how the funds will be used to address that problem, according to the release. Forty-three percent of the awards focus on violent crime, while the remainder will address issues including additional school resource officers and opioid education, according to the release.

Nearly 1,100 applications requested more than 4,000 law enforcement positions were received.

“I am thrilled that so many of our deserving local South Carolina partners earned these sought-after funds to boost the most critical tool in any police department: its people,” McCoy said in the release. “This will allow our sheriffs and police chiefs more officers to develop community partnerships, engage community leaders, and put other community policing features into place.”

The funds were part of more than $400 million awarded to 596 law enforcement agencies nationwide. Those agencies will be able add 2,732 full-time positions, according to the release.

The S.C. agencies awarded funding, along with the number of officers that funding will enable them to hire, are:

• Bluffton Police Department, $250,000, two officers
• Camden Police Department, $326,644, three officers
• Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, $1.25 million, 10 officers
• Chester County Sheriff's Office, $1.02 million, six officers
• Chester Police Department, $382,963, three officers
• Chesterfield County Sheriff's Office, $395,089, four officers
• Conway Police Department, $250,000, two officers
• Greeleyville Police Department, $97,124, one officer
• Hampton County Sheriff's Office, $367,989, three officers
• Hardeeville Police Department, $250,000, two officers
• Horry County Police Department, $1.88 million, 15 officers
• Myrtle Beach Police Department, $1.25 million, 10 officers
• Spartanburg Police Department, $351,762, two officers