July 27, 2006
CONTACT: SID GAULDEN, 803-896-8409
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Public Safety presented the 2004, 2005 ACE Lightning Bolt awards Wednesday, July 26, 2006.
James K. Schweitzer, the Director for SCDPS, noted that the officers were being honored for going beyond the routine traffic stop to enhance public safety.
“The overall objective of the ACE program is to enhance public safety for all South Carolinians through increased traffic safety and increased criminal apprehensions,” Schweitzer said. “Officers participating in this program take the time to look beyond the traffic ticket during a traffic stop.”
The Aggressive Criminal Enforcement (ACE) Program is an officer recognition incentive program for all law enforcement agencies in South Carolina. The South Carolina Department of Public Safety coordinates the ACE program to recognize proficiency and enforcement efforts of individual officers and their agencies.
Officers are eligible to participate after satisfactorily completing training in the ACE program investigation techniques offered by the National Sheriff’s Association or the Department of Public Safety.
Points are awarded to those officers who go beyond a traffic stop to make a drug arrest, recover a stolen vehicle, and apprehend a fugitive who is wanted on a felony warrant or for the seizure of U.S. currency.
The 2005 categories and award winners are:
Officer serving a municipality of less than 10,000
Capt. Steven Jonas, South Congaree Police Department
Officer serving a municipality of more than 10,000
Cpl. Randall Human, Anderson City Police Department
Officer serving a county of less than 50,000
Deputy Clarence Francis, Chesterfield County Sheriff’s Department
Officer serving a county of more than 50,000
Master Patrol Deputy Joseph A. Hamilton, Oconee County Sheriff’s Department
Officer receiving the most overall points
Capt. Steven Jonas, South Congaree Police Department
Agency who officers receiving the most points overall
Anderson City Police Department
And the 2004 ACE winners are:
Officer serving a municipality of less than 10,000
Lt. Thomas E. Miller, Iva Police Department
Officer serving a municipality of more than 10,000
Sgt. Doug Wright, Summerville Police Department
Officer serving a county of more than 50,000
Deputy Lester B. Culbertson, Anderson County Sheriff’s Department
Officer receiving the most points overall
Sgt. Doug Wright, Summerville Police Department
Agency whose officers received the most points overall
Summerville Police Department