About the South Carolina State Constables

The history of the Constable in South Carolina beings in the first one hundred years of the existence of the colony of South Carolina.   According to the South Carolina State Constables Alliance, “A South Carolina State Constable is appointed by the Governor of South Carolina to assist in law enforcement throughout the state and should in no way be used to supplant law enforcement in any agency. The Chief of South Carolina Law Enforcement (SLED) advises the Governor about policies and regulations pertaining to State Constables; establishes training requirements, sets standards for conduct, prescribes limits for use of authority, determines suitability and fitness of applicants and enforces governing regulations.

A South Carolina State Constable is not a stand-alone law enforcement department. It is the purpose of the Constable to assist and augment local law enforcement agency personnel efforts. A South Carolina State Constable is required under S.C. law to preserve and protect the citizens according to the laws of the state and is required to respond to any actions that result in a crime.

A Constable must protect and preserve a crime scene until a regular on-duty officer, with jurisdiction, arrives to take charge of the situation.  A South Carolina State Constable is a certified law enforcement officer and should always present himself in a professional manner. A South Carolina State Constable may carry a concealed weapon as outlined in the regulations within the State of South Carolina only after successfully completing an approved firearms qualifications course. A South Carolina State Constable is not allowed to receive any compensation for services rendered; therefore Constables may not perform any private security work or private investigations. A South Carolina State Constable may not serve as a reserve police officer or any other position as a sworn law enforcement officer.”

Source:

scconstable.org/