In support of The Special Olympics, today members of the College of Charleston’s Department of Public Safety participated in “Cops on the Coop” hosted by Chick Fil A. Each year thousands of law enforcement officers nationwide participate in The Law Enforcement Torch Run raising awareness for Special Olympic Athletes. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Law Enforcement Torch Run. Many thanks to those who stopped and contributed to this worthy cause.
From Chief of Police, Chip Searson:
Today we say farewell and thank you to yet another Public Safety OG, Gary Kirkendall. Gary started here in July of 2013 and has faithfully served for many years. We certainly will miss him sitting in the Training Room eating a plate of carrots while imagining those were really his meal of choice, chicken wings. Life now takes him to the BIG state of Texas, where he follows his long-time partner in crime, Kim Reetz. Good luck, safe travels, and many blessings to you and your wife Gary. We will certainly miss you and appreciate all your faithful years of service to the College of Charleston. Please stay in touch with us!
Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, who shall I send? Who will go for us? And, Gary Kirkendall said, I am here Lord, send me!
Happy Retirement Gary!
Just a few minutes ago, the Department of Public Safety bid a bitter farewell to Kim Reetz. She’s been a member of the department for over eight years and has become a fixture of our daily lives here. Many of us spend as much time at our jobs as we do at home, and Kim has always made the Department of Public Safety a warm, welcoming, and friendly place for everyone here.
Pictured in the photo below, Deputy Chief Broughton and Detective Gillard attempt to persuade Kim not to leave as she makes her final departure.
Always, Kim, we wish you nothing but the best and lots of love. Fair winds and following seas. You will be missed!
From Chief Chip Searson:
“Sadly, we said goodbye a few minutes ago to our Kimberly Reetz as she departed for the last time. We tried everything we could to keep her from leaving. “Kimmerly”, we wish you safe travels and many touchdowns in Texas. You are loved here and will be truly missed.”
Today, the College of Charleston observes Independence Day. Like the College, many businesses are closed today, including government offices. As we observe the holiday on this long weekend, be mindful of safety… yours and others’. And keep in mind those who have suffered recent, tragic losses elsewhere in the country. Be safe, and happy holiday!
The College of Charleston Department of Public Safety extends wishes for a safe and happy holiday to all of the College of Charleston family.
Please be safe this holiday and act responsibly. We’ll see faculty and staff after the holiday and students in August. Enjoy.
Happy Independence Day!
On June 23, 2021, responding to a recent Public Safety request for information, College of Charleston employee Claudia Chirinos called us to notify that a known criminal suspect was present in Lightsey Center. Ms. Chirinos stayed on the line with Public Safety Dispatchers and provided time-critical information that led directly to the apprehension and arrest of the suspect. For her attention to detail and commitment to service, Ms. Chirinos was honored today at Alumni Hall by Chip Searson, Chief of Police,Naomi Broughton, Deputy Chief of Police, and a host of College of Charleston employees.
All of the members of College of Charleston’s Department of Public Safety extend a heartfelt and well-deserved congratulations to the class of 2021! Over the next three days, College of Charleston will host five commencement ceremonies to confer degrees to all of this year’s graduates.
Welcome, all of you, to the next phase of your lives… whatever that may be. Your achievement is monumental, and your laurels have been earned through years of work. Pat yourselves on the back, congratulate your fellow graduates, and enjoy the pomp and circumstance; this day is yours, and you’ve earned it.
We also move into Summer, for graduates and current students, alike. With that being said, our department urges you to continue to do the right thing and to make safe choices. Move on in your post-graduate lives, or return for another semester at CofC… but PLEASE do so safely. Your lives and safety can NOT be replaced.
Have fun, do summery things, and live life. Everyone has earned this break! See you next semester!
With profound sadness, the College of Charleston Department of Public Safety mourns the loss of one of our own for the second time this year. Dispatch Operator #2, Dominique Prioleau passed away today, following more than an week in intensive care, as of yet unknown reasons. As relayed by our own Chief of Police, Chip Searson, “The loss of life is never easy to accept, but the loss of such a young vibrant person with her entire life before her makes this even more difficult to grasp. She touched many lives here and her presence will be truly missed. Even more so by her two young children she leaves behind.”
Dominique is survived by her two children and her mother. Please keep her friends and family in your thoughts.
It is with heavy hearts that the College of Charleston Department of Public Safety was informed today of the loss of one of our own.
Former Deputy Chief and later Interim Chief William F. Herkert, Jr. passed yesterday, February 19, 2021 at the Medical University of South Carolina. Chief Herkert dedicated multiple decades of his life to public service and law enforcement. He was a man of moral character and never hesitated to help others, having voluntarily come out of retirement on two separate occasions to heed the call for service.
His dedication to the job and his professionalism set a benchmark for others to follow. His leadership by example was exemplary. His presence and spirit are and will continue to be missed. Keep his friends and family in your thoughts.
From Chief Chip Searson:
As I often say, those who serve in our profession are a different breed. Those called to serve are cut from a different cloth.
“Then I heard the voice of the Lord say who shall I send and who will go for us? And I said I am here Lord, send me.”
Isaiah 6:8
Bill Herkert said I am here Lord….send me…..
Gods speed to you Chief.
Chief Herkert’s end of watch was 19 February 2021. He was 65 years old and leaves behind a wife, adult children, extended family, and a huge law enforcement family. Rest easy, Chief. We have the watch now.
On Sunday, January 24, 2021, Charleston County Sheriff’s Master Deputy Keith Tyner IV lost his life. Master Deputy Tyner was a veteran officer, serving since 2006, and was a member of the Bureau of Patrol Services and the SWAT team.
The College of Charleston Department of Public Safety mourns for our fallen comrade and stands with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Graziano during this difficult time.
Keep Master Deputy Tyner’s family in your thoughts. Master Deputy Tyner was 41 years old. His end of watch was 24 January, 2021. Rest easy, brother. We have the watch now.
