FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2000
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
DPS HOSTS STUDENTS FOR GROUNDHOG JOB SHADOW DAY
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety today teamed up with other state and federal transportation agencies to host a group of 54 students from Felton Laboratory School in Orangeburg as part of national Groundhog Job Shadow Day.
DPS worked with the Federal Highway Administration, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation to introduce the seventh and eighth grade students to transportation and law enforcement.
The Bureau of Protective Services, Highway Patrol and State Transport Police showed students some of the tools and equipment they use to help keep our highways and citizens safe.
BPS showed students how Annie, the bomb dog, detects explosives and how night surveillance cameras work. The Highway Patrol CERT (Civil Emergency Response Team) demonstrated how they would handle a riot situation. Students also got to see the MAIT (Multi-disciplinary Accident Investigation Team) reconstruct a motor vehicle collision scene.
The State Transport Police demonstrated how they weigh commercial vehicles and buses using portable scales. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and G&P Trucking Co. Inc. brought their No Zone truck, allowing students to climb into the driver’s seat of a tractor-trailer rig and see for themselves the danger caused by blind spots.
"I think this is a wonderful opportunity for state and federal agencies to work together to introduce students to the many careers they could choose within law enforcement and the transportation fields," said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose.
Students began their day at DOT on Park Street where they saw various demonstrations by DOT staff on bridge and road design, traffic engineering and other subjects.
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SI-9/2000