January 1, 2003
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Highway Patrol division, the Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office and Greenwood Police Department today announced the continuation of their multi-jurisdictional traffic enforcement team through June, 2003. The Ninety-Six Police Department also has joined the team, which was formed in October, 2002 to help prevent collisions and lower fatalities in Greenwood County.
“We are committed to reducing the traffic fatality rate in our county,” said Capt. J.R. Jones, commander of Highway Patrol District Two, which includes Greenwood County. “We believe that an ongoing, aggressive multi-agency enforcement effort will ultimately be the key to saving lives.”
During the first two months (October and November) of the multi-agency effort, the team made 322 cases, including four DUI arrests, two marijuana cases and one cocaine case. Three people died in traffic crashes, up from two killed during the same period last year. DUI crashes also increased, from six during October and November last year to twelve during the same time period this year. The total number of collisions in Greenwood County decreased in October and November, though, from 257 last year to 233 this year.
“We are proud of our enforcement numbers so far,” said Greenwood Police Chief Gerald Brooks. “But the increase in fatalities and DUI collisions indicates that we still have a lot of work to do in our effort to save lives.”
Chief Gerald Brooks, Sheriff Sam Riley, Chief Stephen Dixon and Jones have each assigned an officer to serve as the agency’s commander of the team. During the joint enforcement waves, all the officers selected from each agency will be under the direct supervision and control of the commander selected to implement each operation. The commanders will determine the equipment allocations for each joint operation. The commanders will begin the program with four joint operations a month, one in each jurisdiction.
“This type of multi-jurisdictional authority sends a strong message to motorists that we are working as one entity to make Greenwood’s roads safer,” said Sheriff Samuel P. Riley. “The jurisdictional lines that sometimes limited our efforts in the past no longer exist.”
Sections 23-1-210 and 23-1-215 of the South Carolina Code of Laws allow agencies to enter into a written agreement that allows law enforcement officers to exercise jurisdiction within other counties or municipalities.
“We are pleased to be a part of this multi-agency effort to save lives,” said Ninety-Six Police Chief Stephen Dixon. “We look forward to working with the other agencies to try to reduce the growing fatality rate in our county.”
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