June 6, 2003
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8755
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol today announced that Harry Stubblefield has been promoted to lieutenant colonel, serving as second-in-command of the 908-trooper force.
Stubblefield will succeed Russell Roark, who has served as lieutenant colonel since 2001. Roark was promoted to colonel today when Patrol commander Col. Mike Kelley announced his retirement. Stubblefield has most recently served as captain over the traffic management unit -- planning for and overseeing major traffic events in South Carolina. As lieutenant colonel, Stubblefield will oversee enforcement and administrative activities of the Patrol as well as HP special operations.
Stubblefield joined the Highway Patrol in 1982 with his first duty assignment in Horry County. He was promoted to corporal in Charleston in 1989 and served at the Charleston County Emergency Operations Center during Hurricane Hugo. Stubblefield was promoted to sergeant in Horry County in February 1992, first sergeant for Florence County in November 1994, lieutenant in August 1995 and captain in October 1999.
While serving as a lieutenant for Highway Patrol District Five, Stubblefield became the Patrol’s point man on critical traffic incidents such as the Grand Strand’s Harley Davidson Bike weekend and Memorial Day Bikefest. He actively supervised and coordinated evacuations of the northern coastal areas for Hurricanes Bertha and Fran (both in 1996), Hurricane Bonnie in 1998 and Hurricane Dennis in 1999.
Prior to joining the Patrol, Stubblefield was an officer with the Mt. Pleasant Police Department from 1979 until 1982.
Stubblefield is a Mt. Pleasant native. He and his wife, a teacher at Leaphart Elementary School, currently reside in Irmo. He is an active member of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association (SCLEOA).
Picture of Lt. Col. Stubblefield
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