COLUMBIA – The South Carolina Department of Public Safety is saddened to share that South Carolina State Transport Police Officer Mark Reynolds, 43, died Wednesday evening after a medical emergency during training earlier in the day.  

Reynolds, a native of Florence County was assigned to Florence, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties (Region 5). He joined the State Transport Police in 2022, after previously serving as a firefighter for more than a decade and working as a professional truck driver.  

“The death of Officer First Class Reynolds is a profound loss, not only for the State Transport Police, but the entire Department of Public Safety,” SCDPS Director Robert G. Woods, IV said. “We are all hugging our families a little closer tonight and praying for Mark’s wife, children, friends and loved ones who are left reeling from this sudden loss.”

Reynolds is the first State Transport Police officer to die in the line of duty since STP was created in 1993 as a division within the SC Department of Public Safety.

“Today is a very sad day for the State Transport Police. For anyone who knew Mark personally, he was well liked, respected and extremely dependable,” STP Colonel Dwayne Wilson said. “He was committed to his job and lived a life of service to the state, through his years as a firefighter and most recently as one of our officers. He will be greatly missed.”

A photograph of Officer First Class Mark Reynolds is available to download from this Flickr photo album.

Information regarding his memorial service will be released by SCDPS as soon as that information is available.

The South Carolina Department of Public Safety includes the Highway Patrol, State Transport Police, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. Our mission is to ensure public safety by protecting and serving the people of South Carolina and its visitors.