South Carolina State University

Arrest Authority and Relationships with Other Agencies
The Police officers employed by The South Carolina State Police Department are appointed and commissioned as State Constables by the Governor of South Carolina as provided by Title 23, Chapter 1, article 60, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, as amended. They are empowered to enforce the laws of South Carolina, including the powers of arrest, anywhere in the state. Because these officers have statewide authority, they sometimes investigate crime on other than university property and make arrests for off-campus crimes that they witness.

The South Carolina State University Police Department has worked closely with many other law enforcement agencies over the years. Because of where the university is geographically located, any crime that occurs on campus may occur in the city or county. The Department has worked with federal, state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies to investigate matters of mutual interest. The Department participates in intelligence sharing associations with all areas of law enforcement agencies. The Department has a successful professional relationship with our local and state prosecutors, the court system, the coroner’s office, insurance and other private investigators, and our regulatory agencies.