FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 14, 2001

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755

REGIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Criminal Justice Academy Division announces that it will expand its regional training program to the Grand Strand area, establishing a satellite campus at Horry-Georgetown Technical College.

In looking at ways to improve and expand the services it offers, CJA identified a pressing need to increase both regional and other off-site training for law enforcement officers.

"We began looking at the regional concept because of the increased demands for training at the academy," said DPS Director B. Boykin Rose. "Our present facilities can no longer accommodate the increasing number of officers needing training."

The regional model of training locates training sites near service population centers and provides direct contact with the service areas. This maximizes local involvement in the regional facilities while reducing commuting distances and travel expenses for law enforcement officers. The program allows officers to return to their homes and communities at night and provides convenient access to departments for in-service training.

The regional training program will support the community-oriented policing philosophy and helps bring training closer to the various law enforcement agencies across South Carolina.

CJA Deputy Director William Neill said, "In many ways police advanced training has not been able to keep pace with the demands required of police officers in a changing society. The regional training concept will foster a fundamental change in the methodology for training delivery and for continuous customer improvement."

Training at the tech site will consist of the traditional methods, such as instructor/classrooms and tele-conferencing. In addition, the program will use web-based training and interactive television as instructional methods.

The regional training program began late last year in the Upstate region. The Greer campus of Greenville Technical College was selected as the first satellite campus site and serves as the model for the regional training program.

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JB/67/2001

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