K-9 Reading Patrol

Join our K-9 Unit for our Reading Patrol series where they will be reading to children ages 4-10. The theme for this event is "Every Hero Has a Story".

When: July 7, 2015

Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Where: Charleston County Library
             1133 Mathis Ferry Road
             Mount Pleasant, SC


Members of the media are welcome to attend. For more information please contact Inspector Chip Googe at 843-884-4176

Scam Alert

On June 29, 2015 one of our citizens received a telephone call from 202-559-6609 stating that they were from the IRS. The caller identified herself as "Officer Kim Brown" from the legal department and told the victim that there was a lawsuit against her. One of our officers called the number back and was met with hostility when she identified herself.

Please remember that the Internal Revenue Service will not call you to request money, threaten you with a lawsuit or threaten to arrest you.

Bridge to Peace Unity Event - Amazing Grace

The bagpiper playing Amazing Grace before the start of the Bridge to Peace Unity Chain. The crowd joins in and solidifies Charleston as a whole! We were honored to have been a part of this remarkable event!

Officers Save Man During a Traffic Stop

 

 

On April 5, 2015 FTO Neese received a call from a friend about an erratic driver. He was able to catch up with the driver, who turned out to be Mr. Orange. After some difficulty getting Mr. Orange to realize he was being signaled to stop, FTO Neese and Cpl. Santos determined that he was not intoxicated, but rather was medically impaired. It took some convincing, but Mr. Orange agreed to go with EMS to the hospital. It was later relayed to Mr. Orange by his doctors that the actions of the officers involved, to include stressing the need for him to receive medical attention quickly, likely saved his life. Mr. Orange recently came by the police department to thank FTO Neese and Cpl. Santos for their quick actions.

Bridge to Peace Unity Chain

These were the opening remarks from Jay Johnson before the start of the Bridge to Peace Unity Chain on Sunday. We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of support we received in person and from all over the nation on social media! It was truly a moving experience for us and we were honored to be a part of it!

Bridge to Peace Update

The Mount Pleasant Police Department wants to remind all that are participating in the Bridge to Peace Unity Chain that they are encouraged to gather at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. There will be bus service provided by CARTA that will pick up from both Charleston City and Mount Pleasant. This bus service will only be dropping off in front of the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.


Although we are encouraging everyone to meet in Mount Pleasant we recognize that many will still join in on the Charleston City Side. There will be officers on the Charleston City side providing instruction and coordinating the start of the walk with officials on the Mount Pleasant side.

Bridge to Peace Press Release

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (June 20, 2015) - Town of Mount Pleasant officials met this afternoon with the Bridge to Peace event organizers and other area officials to coordinate resources. The Bridge to Peace event is set to take place Sunday, June 21st at 7:45pm. "When something this horrendous happens this close to home, you are compelled to do something," said event coordinator Dorsey Fairbairn. "We are responding to this tragedy with love not hate. We are standing together unified in faith and prayer." Mayor Linda Page said, "The Town is honored to be a partner in this meaningful event. I would like to thank Dorsey Fairbairn and her team for this vision and for their hard work in organizing this wonderful coming together of our community." Law enforcement, emergency medical and public services personnel will have resources placed in different locations for the duration of this event.

 

Participants are encouraged to meet on the Mount Pleasant side of the bridge and the event specifics are as follows:

 

•   Parking will be available at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. Overflow parking will be available at the Omar Shrine Temple and at Patriot's Point.

•   CARTA will run an extended schedule for the normal route that ends at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

•   Participants are asked to meet in front of the Cooper River Room on the Great Lawn at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park. Bathrooms will be available.

•   Participants are asked to arrive by 7:30pm to hear opening remarks and event instructions. Police Chief Carl Ritchie will lead the march promptly at 7:45pm. Attendees will be aligned two by two for the walk up the Ravenel Bridge.

 

To keep everyone safe the Town of Mount Pleasant would like to remind everyone of these safety tips:

 

•   Please bring water with you and stay hydrated.

•   Participants are discouraged from bringing drones to this event. Town ordinance prohibits flying drones within the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

•   Do not press against the railing in the pedestrian lane on the Ravenel Bridge.

•   Stay out of the bicycle lane on the pedestrian lane. The traffic lane closest to the pedestrian walkway will also be closed for emergency personnel and participants are asked to stay out of this lane.

•   The Mount Pleasant Fire Department and a lost child tent will be set up near the Cooper River Room at the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

 

 

Event Details

 

7:30pm - Opening remarks by Dorsey Fairbairn

                Instructions given to participants by Chief Ritchie

                Chaplain Rob Dewey will deliver an invocation

7:45pm - March is led to the Ravenel Bridge by Chief Ritchie

                9 minute moment of silence once participants are positioned on the bridge

Conclusion - Participants will be led back down the Ravenel Bridge to the Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park.

 

 

Suspect Arrested

Charleston City Shooting Suspect

If you see this individual or the vehicle please call the number listed above or 911 immediately! He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached!

Officer Saves Man From Burning Vehicle

 

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – Officer rescues man from burning car on Pitt Street near King Street.   Pfc. Amber Simmons responded to Pitt Street near King Street on June 7, 2015 at approximately 12:15am and found a vehicle engulfed in flames. Pfc. Simmons observed a man partially out of the vehicle while another female was trying to get him out. Without regard for her own safety Pfc. Simmons ran to the car and assisted the witness in moving the man to safety.  Pfc. Simmons’ quick actions saved the man from serious injury and possible death.       The camera initiates after the man was pulled to safety.

Lane Closure

TRAFFIC ALERT Hungryneck Blvd. Lane Closure Slated June 16

The Town of Mount Pleasant Public Services Department announces daytime lane closures starting on June 16, 2015. Crews will be continuing working on a storm drain repair. This is the fourth road closure for this project. This road closure is for the asphalt repair associated with the storm drain repair from early April. This work is weather permitting.

 

June 16, 2015

 

Lane closures will occur on Hungryneck Boulevard between the Isle of Palms Connector and Market Center Boulevard in the southbound direction. The work will occur between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm

 

• At no time will the entire roadway be blocked to traffic. Only one lane will be closed.
• Drivers will have access to businesses and residential properties along Hungryneck Boulevard at all times.
• Drivers traveling through the project’s construction zone are asked to be aware of equipment and crews working in the area at all times.

 

The purpose of the project was to repair a separated storm drain pipe and curb inlet. This asphalt repair is considered routine, and the scheduled completion of the project is expected on Tuesday June 16, 2015.

 

Visit our official website at www.tompsc.com  for public meeting notices and up-to-date news and information about Mount Pleasant Traffic updates.

Community Outreach

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Ritchie and several officers attended the White Hall Terrace Community Black and White Banquet on Saturday. The theme of the event was "Bringing the Community Together". Chief Ritchie spoke to the attendees about the importance of community policing and working together in a partnership to solve issues. We want to thank the White Hall Community for inviting us to this event. The support we have from our community is overwhelming!

Employee of the Month

On May 5, 2015 Pfc. Howard was dispatched to a home regarding a man that had collapsed and stopped breathing. When Pfc. Howard arrived on scene she noted that the man had no pulse and was not responding. She performed CPR until EMS arrived on scene and took over the life saving efforts. The patient did regain consciousness before he was transported to a local hospital. Pfc. Howard’s quick action saved the gentleman’s life. She was recognized on June 9th, 2015 during the Town Council meeting.

Golf Cart Laws

 

 

 

 

Summer is in full swing so we want to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the golf cart laws for the State of South Carolina:

 

• The driver must be at least 16 and have a valid driver’s license.

 

• Golf Cart must be insured.

 

• Must be registered with the DMV, and have permit.

 

• Operate on a secondary road where posted speed limit is

35mph or less and within 4 miles of registered address.

 

• Can only cross a primary road to get to another secondary

road.

 

• Can only operate during daylight hours, regardless of whether

or not the Golf Cart has lights installed.

 



Body Worn Cameras Purchased

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. – The Mount Pleasant Police Department has purchased 150 Vievu LE3 cameras to equip every police officer with body worn cameras.   150 Vievu LE3 cameras were delivered on Friday June 5, 2015 to the Mount Pleasant Police Department. Each officer will be assigned a body camera as part of their issued duty equipment. “We feel that having a camera on every officer will be beneficial to our department and the community as a whole,” says Inspector Chip Googe. “The Vievu camera will help strengthen cases for prosecution as well as show the officers’ and  suspects’ actions during critical incidents.” Inspector Googe points out that body cameras will not be a fix for every situation but will provide more pieces of information about an incident. Inspector Googe states that they have had a policy for body worn cameras since February of 2014. The Bicycle Patrol and K-9 Units have been wearing body worn cameras since that time.   “The Mount Pleasant Police Department enjoys a strong relationship with our community,” says Chief Carl Ritchie. “Our philosophy has always embraced the community policing concept. This is one more step that strengthens the mutual trust we have with our citizens and offers another layer of transparency to the community we serve.” Chief Ritchie further states that this tool will help show more of the good deeds that officers already do while out on patrol. The recent car fire at Vickery’s where Cpl. Willis is seen pulling a man to   safety is a good example of this. The in car camera captured this incident but had it occurred outside of its view the body worn camera would have provided the details.   “I would like to congratulate the Mount Pleasant Police Department for its proactive stance on the use of body cameras,” say Mayor Linda Page. “We are now the first   municipality in South Carolina able to outfit every police officer with a body camera. Our police department is already heavily integrated within the fabric of the community with a wide array of youth programs and community engagement initiatives. We welcome the body cameras as another tool to promote our core values of professional excellence, trust, honesty and transparency, fairness, respect and accountability.”   Four supervisors will attend a train the trainer class provided by Vievu on June 11th. This training will allow them to teach all other officers in the proper use of the body worn cameras. The current system used to store video from car mounted cameras will also be used to house videos from the body worn cameras. The cameras are expected to roll out on June 26th, 2015.   Chief Ritchie would also like to thank Town Administrator Eric DeMoura, Mayor Linda Page and all of Town Council for funding all of the body cameras. Their support of this program is immeasurable.

Interview with Fox and Friends

You can see the interview that Cpl. Willis gave to Fox and Friends this morning regarding his heroic act of pulling a young man from a burning vehicle in the link below. Thank you to Fox and Friends for allowing Cpl. Willis to share this story with their viewers!

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4272793511001

Wanted Wednesday

CAPTURED 6/9/2015

Can you help us locate this individual? If you have any information about him please call 843-884-4176. You can also send an anonymous tip from the tab above or from our smartphone application. 

www.mppdnews.blogspot.com 

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