At the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame, visitors can experience the history of South Carolina law enforcement up close and have the chance to see historic equipment, seized contraband, weapons, badges, uniforms, and even a restored 1955 Ford SC Highway Patrol car!
Police, Sheriff's Deputies, and various state law enforcement officers...these are the men and women who serve and protect our communities. Visit the SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame to learn more about what these heroes do to keep us safe.
Admission:
Free to the public
Walk-ins are welcome
Handicap accessible
Guided group tours available by prior arrangement
School tours (3rd grade and up) are encouraged
Location:
5400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212 (adjacent to the SC Criminal Justice Academy)
Hours:
Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Closed weekends and state holidays
Contact:
Telephone: (803) 896-8199
Fax: (803) 896-9128
The Museum... The "Story" of South Carolina Law Enforcement
Any journalism student can tell you that a good story will answer the questions - Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? At the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame, the history of South Carolina law enforcement is told through twelve exhibit areas, each of which focuses on an aspect of law enforcement in the context of answering one or more of these basic questions.
Using photographs, artifacts, as well as audio-visual and interactive teaching aids, each exhibit seeks to educate and familiarize visitors with law enforcement officers and their activities.
"What is Law Enforcement?" begins a tour by explaining the basic concepts of law and enforcement. Photos, patches and badges illustrate the many types of officers, agencies and activities included under the "umbrella" of law enforcement.
"Law Enforcement History/Early South Carolina Law Enforcement" provides a brief explanation of the development of law enforcement, as we now know it, and its early development in our state.
Other exhibits focus on the different law enforcement agencies and their differing responsibilities, the variety of equipment used over time, and the role of law enforcement in protecting the public welfare.
Like any other museum, the Hall of Fame preserves for the future a collection of artifacts, documents, and images related to South Carolina law enforcement, as well as general research files and files for each Memorial Room Inductee. At present the collection contains approximately 2000 artifacts and documents, in addition to over 7000 images. The Hall of Fame is always interested in receiving appropriate additions to the collection.
Any object, image, or file in the museum collection can be made available for research by students, genealogists, family members, or other interested parties. Please contact the Hall of Fame staff for additional information or to make prior arrangements.
The Memorial...We Must Never Forget
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Memorial Room, located in the rotunda, is dedicated to those men and women who have given their lives in service to the people of the state of South Carolina. The first officer recognized is Robert Maxwell, sheriff of the old Washington District in the upstate region of the state. Sheriff Maxwell was ambushed on his way to court in 1797. He is followed by more than 400 officers, from all over the state and many different agencies, ranging up to the present time.
To be considered for induction an officer must be nominated by the head of the South Carolina law enforcement agency for which they worked. Federal officers assigned to South Carolina are also eligible. They must have been a Class I Certified officer and, at the time of his/her death, been operating in an "active on-duty" capacity, or have died as a result of the lingering effects of an on-duty injury.
Nominations are reviewed and approved by a committee composed of the leaders of the largest law enforcement organizations in the state: Director, S.C. Department of Public Safety; Chief, State Law Enforcement Division (SLED); Director, S.C. Department of Corrections; Deputy Director, Law Enforcement Division, S.C. Department of Natural Resources; Executive Director, S.C. Police Chief's Association; Executive Director, S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Association; Secretary, S.C. Sheriff's Association.
Once a nomination is approved, the officer is formally inducted at the Annual Memorial Room Induction Ceremony held the first Wednesday in May each year. Family, friends and fellow officers are invited to attend the ceremony. At that time a plaque honoring each new inductee is added to the wall of the rotunda and will remain there in perpetuity.
There is no time limit for when an officer may be nominated to the Hall of Fame Memorial Room. If you know of an officer who you believe would qualify for induction, but may have been overlooked in the past, please contact the Hall of Fame. It is our goal to honor EVERY South Carolina law enforcement officer who has made the supreme sacrifice for their fellow citizens.
South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Scholarships
Scholarships are available to the sons and daughters of South Carolina officers who were killed in the line of duty and are honored in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame Memorial Room. These scholarships are made possible by the generous donations from individuals, foundations, agencies, and businesses supporting the South Carolina law enforcement community.
Read more about the application and selection process.
Make a Donation
The SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame is operated and maintained by the generous donations from the general public, as well as law enforcement family, friends, and supporters.
Whether you are donating to preserve law enforcement history in South Carolina or help provide scholarships for children of South Carolina law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty, we appreciate your support.