FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 27, 2004

CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409

SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY PATROL MAKES

CHANGES IN COMMAND STRUCTURE

COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety announces promotions and reassignments in the Highway Patrol division, effective November 2, as part of a reorganization of its command structure.

The Highway Patrol converted to a new organizational structure in 2002, dividing the state into regions called Troops. The Troop concept assigned troopers to areas of service, allowing the Patrol to maintain 24-hour coverage statewide. The Patrol also initiated a Collision Reduction Enforcement Plan (CREP) in 2003 in which each Troop monitors traffic trends – including collisions, traffic volume and fatalities – and determines where to place their enforcement emphasis.

The new organizational structure will allow the Highway Patrol to more effectively use the data collected through CREP and to maximize the effectiveness of the Troop structure by closely monitoring the activities of the various Troops and creating continuity throughout the state.

“Having the field majors will provide more effective communication between the field and headquarters and raises the bar on the services we provide to the motoring public,” said Col. Russell Roark. “Our ultimate goal is to make our state safer by understanding collision trends and using that data to prevent further tragedies on our highways. We now have an additional mechanism in place to help us realize that goal.”

Personnel who have been transferred or promoted as part of the restructuring include:

Capt. B.S. McDonald, who has commanded Troop 4 since 2001, has been promoted to Major over Field Operations, Region 1 (Troops 1-4) and will be stationed in Highway Patrol Headquarters in Blythewood. McDonald began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1976, assigned to Fairfield County. In 1994, he was promoted to lieutenant and transferred to Troop 4 headquarters in Chester, then promoted to captain in 2001.
- Lt. M.S. Wright, who is currently stationed in Troop 3, has been promoted to Captain in Troop 4. Wright has served in Greenville and Spartanburg counties since he began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1982. He began his law enforcement career with the Gaffney Police Department in 1978.
Capt. M.L. Howard, who has commanded Troop 5 since 2001, has been promoted to Major over Field Operations Region 2 (Troops 5-8) and will be stationed in Highway Patrol Headquarters in Blythewood. Howard began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1982, assigned to Horry County. He served in Williamsburg and Darlington counties from 1989-1994 when he was promoted to lieutenant stationed in Florence, then to captain in 2001.
- Capt. R.E. Gosnell, who has served as captain in Troop 6 since 1999, will transfer to Florence to become Troop 5 Captain. Gosnell began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1978, assigned to York County. He was assigned to Spartanburg and Horry counties until 1997 when he was promoted to lieutenant serving in Troop 6 headquarters in Charleston.
- Lt. J.A. Woods, who is currently assigned to Troop 6, has been promoted to captain in Troop 6. Woods began his career with the Highway Patrol in 1982 in Calhoun County. He served in Dorchester and Colleton counties until 2001 when he was promoted to lieutenant serving in Troop 6 headquarters in Charleston.

**Media see Troop map above. Troop 8 is the ACE Interdiction Unit.

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