Manning resident among 13 new State Transport Police graduates

Manning native Lance Cpl. R.T. Turner was among 13 officers officially welcomed into the ranks of the South Carolina State Transport Police (STP) during a graduation and awards ceremony held Friday in Columbia.

Turner, assigned to Region 1 (Columbia), was one of eight graduates new to law enforcement, joining five pre-certified officers from across South Carolina and several other states. The class represented communities as far away as Florida, Kansas, and New Jersey.

“I am honored to welcome our new officers to the State Transport Police and the South Carolina Department of Public Safety,” said SCDPS Deputy Director Michael Oliver. “Your dedication to serving and protecting our community is the cornerstone of our mission to save lives on South Carolina roadways.”

A division of the S.C. Department of Public Safety, the State Transport Police enforces state and federal laws governing commercial motor vehicles. Each new officer completes nine months of training that begins with Basic Training at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, followed by advanced instruction in commercial motor vehicle enforcement, hazardous materials regulations, safety inspections, and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) standards.

The 2024 graduating class included:

• Region 1 (Columbia): Lance Cpl. R.T. Turner, Manning; Officer S.R. Boone, South Congaree
• Region 2 (Greenwood): Master Officer R.A. Fittery, Graniteville; Master Officer R.R. Threatt II, Rock Hill
• Region 3 (Greenville): Lance Cpl. M.J. Pinkstaff, Daytona Beach, Fla.; Officer H.A. Novacek, Annandale, N.J.
• Region 4 (Rock Hill): Officer J.B. Catoe, Kershaw; Officer T.B. Helms, Spartanburg
• Region 6 (Dorchester): Lance Cpl. J.T. Collie, Elm City, N.C.; Officer K.L. Hoffman, Sandy Run; Officer T.D. Jones, Calhoun Falls; Officer T.R. McCray, Moncks Corner; Officer B.M. Wrigley, Louisburg, Kan.

Officer Wrigley received the Colonel Leroy Taylor Distinguished Graduate Award for achieving the highest GPA in state and federal courses.

In addition to welcoming the new class, STP honored several officers and staff for their exceptional service in 2024.

Lance Cpl. Sidney A. Brock of the Special Operations unit was named the 2024 Overall Officer of the Year for his performance in commercial motor vehicle inspections and impaired-driving enforcement. Brock conducted nearly 1,000 inspections, led his unit in drug and DUI cases, and was also recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) South Carolina with the Rick Moore DRE of the Year Award.

“It is with immense pride that I congratulate Lance Cpl. Brock as our Officer of the Year,” said STP Commander Col. Dwayne D. Wilson. “I also extend my deepest appreciation to the rest of our honorees, whose remarkable contributions strengthen our division and make a profound impact on our communities and our state.”

Other honorees included:

• Rookie of the Year: Officer First Class J.T. Kirk (Region 3)
• Civilian Employee of the Year: Jennifer Roach
• Region of the Year: Region 3 (Greenville area)

Regional Officer of the Year winners were:

• Region 1: Master Officer J.E. Dorroh
• Region 2: Master Officer R.R. Threatt II
• Region 3: Senior Officer P.C. Thrasher
• Region 4: Lance Cpl. B.J. Knight
• Region 5: Master Officer T.A. Williams
• Region 6: Senior Officer M.A. Fisher
• Special Operations: Lance Cpl. S.A. Brock*

(*Denotes overall winner)

Photos from the graduation and award ceremony will be available on the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Facebook page and in the agency’s online photo album.

The State Transport Police is one of five divisions within the S.C. Department of Public Safety, which also includes the Highway Patrol, Bureau of Protective Services, Office of Highway Safety and Justice Programs, and the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame.