SLED's Counter Terrorism Department is made up of the Arson Investigations Unit, the Aviation Unit, the Bloodhound Tracking and K9 Team, the Bomb Squad, the Counter Terrorism Dive Unit (CDU), Preventative Radiological, Nuclear Detection (PRND) Program, Protective Services/Emergency Management, the SWAT Team, the SeaHawk Interagency Operations Center (IOC), and the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Team.
Arson Investigations
The SLED Arson Unit’s Mission is to provide quality manpower, assistance and expertise to local agencies throughout the State of South Carolina. Members of the SLED Arson Investigations Unit are trained in numerous disciplines related to the field of fire/explosion investigations. The Arson Unit has Ignitable Liquid Detection Canines (ILDCs) strategically positioned across the state to provide for a swift response if K9 assets are requested. Arson Agents process each individual scene and render an expert opinion as to the origin and cause of the fire. If the fire is found to be “Incendiary,” Agents investigate the case from the initial crime scene until the case is adjudicated in a court of law. In addition to responding to calls for assistance, these Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) provide training to local agencies throughout the state in coordination with the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy (SCCJA) and the South Carolina Fire Academy (SCFA).
Aviation
The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Aviation Unit provides 24-hour-a-day aviation assets to all Law Enforcement agencies in the State of South Carolina. The Aviation Unit has provided assistance throughout the state in; missing persons, fugitive searches, narcotics operations, surveillance, personnel and asset transport, tactical operations/SWAT support, hoist and lift operations, natural disaster response, Bambi bucket operations (aerial water delivery), executive/ presidential details, national security operations, port security operations and transport operations. Aviation Flight Log Available Here
Bloodhound Tracking and K9 Team
The SLED Bloodhound Tracking and k9 Team is a specialized tactical unit that assists federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement in locating wanted and missing individuals by utilizing bloodhound-mix tracking dogs. The team provides K9s in support of SWAT and fugitive operations to include: apprehension, building search, tracking, and article search. The team also promotes positive public relations throughout the state by conducting presentations to the community. The Bloodhound Tracking Team is centrally located at SLED headquarters in Columbia for rapid deployment to all areas of the state. The Tracking Team is supervised by a Lieutenant and 6 full-time Special Agents. All members of the Tracking Team are also assigned to the SLED SWAT team with members serving on entry, sniper, and containment teams.
Bloodhound Tracking Team History
SLED's Bloodhound Tracking Team started not long after the state police agency was founded in 1947. Legend has it, longtime Chief J.P. Strom bought the first two dogs himself. Throughout the years, the SLED Bloodhound Tracking Team has built a strong tradition of breeding and training the highest quality tracking dogs.
The dogs utilized by SLED are not true bloodhounds. Instead, the team takes bloodhounds and breeds in redbone coonhound and blue tick hounds to give the dogs more stamina, and also make them stronger and more agile. Intense training of new pups, begins at 8 weeks old, and they are not given names immediately. Instead, handlers use hair dye and paint numbers in their fur so that they can be graded throughout their training. Out of eight to 10 pups in a litter, the team might keep 1 to 2. Once the hounds make the team they are given a name, and are continually trained throughout their working lifetime.
In recent years, the team has added Belgian Malinois K9s to the tracking team. The K9s are utilized in the apprehension of fugitives, wanted or escaped persons, tracking, crowd control, locating articles, public relations demonstrations, and other needs of the Division. The K9s are also used in SWAT operations as a deterrent to encourage a suspect to surrender before the dog is deployed. After deployment, the dog will locate and secure the suspect for the SWAT team.
K9 Unit training includes a basic patrol school which includes obedience, officer protection, criminal apprehension, building search, evidence recovery, crowd control, and tracking of wanted or missing individuals. Each team tests for recertification annually.
Bomb Squad
The SLED Bomb Squad serves the citizens of South Carolina by providing world-class bomb technicians who can detect and deter explosive devices, mitigate explosive devices, and investigate crimes involving explosives. SLED’s bomb technicians are uniquely equipped and qualified to deal with explosive threats to the public, from nuclear and radiological devices to hazardous fireworks and pyrotechnics.
Our bomb technicians can be found serving daily in areas such as: sporting events, large gatherings, dignitary protection, mass transit, and at the ports of South Carolina. Bomb technicians at SLED further serve in additional specialized capacities such as with the Counterterrorism Dive Unit (CDU), and the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.
SLED’s Bomb Squad is one of the unique few in the United States with the capability to address explosive threats in the maritime environment, both above and below the water. Many of our bomb technicians are considered subject matter experts in various subdisciplines and routinely provide instruction to bomb technicians from all over the world.
Counterterrorism Dive Unit (CDU)
The mission of the SLED Counterterrorism Dive Unit (CDU) is to safeguard South Carolina’s maritime infrastructure by conducting explosive, radiological, and hazardous device detection sweeps, as well as mitigating incidents at these critical locations. Equipped with certified specialized divers, advanced underwater robotics, and state-of-the-art search and recovery tools, the CDU offers vital manpower and support to federal, state, and local partners in the maritime environment. Additionally, the CDU is equipped with a portable Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) detection system, enhancing its ability to detect and neutralize aerial threats in support of comprehensive security operations.
Preventative Radiological/Nuclear Detection (PRND) Program
The South Carolina Preventive Radiological/Nuclear Detection (PRND) Program is a U.S. government initiative focused on detecting, identifying, and preventing the illicit movement or use of radioactive and nuclear materials before they can be used in an attack. The Program operates across federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial levels, often integrating law enforcement, emergency response, and intelligence capabilities.
Protective Services/Emergency Management
Provide support to local, state, and federal agencies by planning, coordinating, or executing responses for planned special events, emergency situations, disasters, and critical incidents; Coordinate, support, plan, and respond to the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD) for all-hazard planning for critical incidents, natural or human-made disasters, and planned events in concurrence with the South Carolina Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Provide personnel to the Emergency Support Function 13 (ESF-13) cell during exercises and activation of the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center (SEOC); Provide support to United States Department of Energy (DOE) by planning, coordinating, or executing armed escorts of special nuclear material through South Carolina; and Provide support to local, state, and federal agencies by planning, coordinating, or executing responses for law enforcement protection and security for dignitaries, juries, and other identified persons.
SeaHawk Interagency Operations Center (IOC)
The SeaHawk Interagency Operations Center (IOC) is the coordinating body of government agencies focused on the safety, security, and prosperity of the South Carolina maritime domain. It utilizes a systematic approach to facilitate information sharing; conducts a thorough analysis of risks and threats; plans for emergent, potential, and upcoming incidents; and coordinates operation between federal, state, and local partners.
SWAT Team
The SLED Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team is a specialized team whose members are recruited, trained, and equipped to respond and resolve critical incidents that are generally out of the capabilities of standard law enforcement and first responders. The mission of the SLED SWAT Team is to save lives and increase the likelihood of safely and peacefully resolving critical incidents. Within the SLED SWAT Team are smaller specialized units: Entry Team, Precision Long Rifle, Containment, Negotiations, EOD, and EMT. Operations that the SWAT Team performs range from, but are not limited to: Security/Protective Details, High Risk Warrant Services, Barricaded Subjects, Hostage Rescues, and everything in between. The SLED SWAT Team’s focus is to respond quickly, utilize tactical solutions, and mitigate casualties through specialized training, equipment, and tactics to greater serve the public of South Carolina and support all local, state, and federal agencies upon request.
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Team
SLED WMD Response Team is comprised of operators from the SLED SWAT Team, Bomb Squad, as well as personnel from the SLED Clandestine Laboratory Team and various other Hazardous Material Technicians throughout the state. The members of the SLED WMD Response Team are on call and available for response to calls for service anywhere within the state of South Carolina at a moment’s notice. The operators on the SLED WMD Response Team are capable of dealing with threats emanating from a wide array of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive categories and work hand-in-hand with the Federal Government and other JTTF/PRND partners to ensure the safety and security of the citizens of South Carolina.