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From textiles to HAZMAT, retiring STP officer looks back on 26 years of getting his hands dirty

Corporal Benjamin Coleman would absolutely describe his job as toxic — but not in the way you might think. For the past 12 years, he’s been a…

SCHP’s first female captain retires, reflects on what’s next after lifelong career with DPS

Looking back at her 31-year career with the South Carolina Highway Patrol and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Major Tara Craig knows…

SCHP Pistol Team snags 11 medals at worldwide first responders’ competition

The South Carolina Highway Patrol Pistol Team returned victorious from this year’s World Police and Fire Games, with nearly a dozen medals in hand.“…

‘It’s in my blood:’ SCHP First Sergeant retiring after more than 26 years

First Sergeant Mark Thompson never needed action figurines as a child. Growing up the son and grandson of law enforcement officers provided its share…

From working under a pineapple field in Hawaii, to keeping DPS online: OIT's Ron Bass retires after 27 years

A husband, father, and U.S. Army veteran, Ron Bass has always believed in giving credit where credit is due. “There’s a lot of unsung heroes…

Beloved OFS employee says goodbye after 33 years in state government

With decades of experience in law, grant funding, photography, and crafts, some might call Penny Baskin a jack-of-all-trades. Born and raised in…

’I’m not ready to leave yet‘: BPS officer returns to work after only 32 days of retirement

They say that if you find a job you love, you will never work a day in your life. This has held especially true for Master Officer Michael Hydrick,…

‘You don’t get a second chance’: Father and son still making memories as SCHP major, STP officer

Major Everick Patterson never pushed his son to follow in his footsteps of serving in the military and law enforcement. Lance Corporal Trey Patterson…

‘I’ve been blessed‘: Retiring SCDPS officer reflects on 27 years of traffic stops, polygraph exams — and looks at what’s to come

For Gill Knox, a life dedicated to public safety was always on the forefront of his mind. Now, having spent half of his life with the Department of…

How this SCDPS officer juggles being a program manager, a funeral assistant, a high school football ref, and a dad

Brent Kelly has several jobs — but he doesn’t consider any of them work. “I guess you could say work is my hobby,” he grinned. “But to me, it’s…