Special Operations

Commanding Officers

Captain Jeff Mosher

Bio Coming Soon

Animal Control

This officer enforces the city ordinances and state laws regarding animals which are designed to protect the citizens and animals within the city limits. This is achieved by addressing citizens’ complaints including nuisance animals, animals running at large, vicious animals and animals being mistreated. The officer also patrols the city in order to try to proactively resolve animal issues before they become a problem. Educational programs are held at schools and community meetings to increase the citizens’ awareness of the city ordinances involving animals and how to properly care for their pets. The Anderson Police Department Animal Control Officer works closely with the Anderson County Animal Control Division and assists with complaints of residents where both the city and county are concerned.

Community Action Team

The Community Action Team seeks to form partnerships with various business, church, charity and civic groups throughout Anderson County. The focus of the Community Action Team is leveraging excellent relationships with these various groups to focus on crime prevention, citizen education, community involvement, and meeting the needs of people in distress.

Chaplaincy Program

The Chaplaincy Program The primary purpose of the Chaplain program is to complement the department’s total service program by providing spiritual based guidance services as may be required for the good of the Anderson Police Department and the community. It is designed to assist department personnel and their family members in handling a variety of crisis situations. The Chaplaincy consist of trained Counselors who will work alongside officers and offer support in traumatic incidents. Chaplains will also work closely when needed with the victim advocate program to offer assistance to victims of crime and help guide them toward proper programs for future assistance.

A. QUALIFICATIONS

The Police Chaplains will meet the following minimum qualifications:
Be an ordained or licensed minister in good standing and endorsed for the Chaplaincy by a recognized endorsing agency or denomination.
Show compassion, understanding, and love for his fellow man and relate easily to people. He/she must be able to maintain personal control in extremely stressful situations. He/she must maintain high spiritual and moral standards and have a good reputation in the community.
Manifest a broad base of experience and professional maturity, emotional stability, and personal flexibility. He/she’s experience should include a wide range of counseling and crisis intervention.
Be tactful and considerate in his approach to all people regardless of race, creed, or religion. He/she should demonstrate the ability to be a positive force in the maintenance of morale throughout the Department.
Indicate a willingness to be involved in training to enhance his efficiency in meeting and dealing with people in crisis. He/she should be familiar with community medical, psychiatric, and other resources in the local area.
Be willing and available to respond to any and all situations where his presence as Chaplain is indicated.
Possess a valid and current South Carolina driver’s license.
Have never been convicted of a felony, or any offenses involving moral turpitude, minor traffic violations excluded.

In loving Memory: Chaplain Don Wilson

Gang Enforcement Unit

The Anderson City Police Dept. Gang Enforcement Unit is under the command of the Special Operations division and is supervised by Capt. Mike Bracone. Graig Gardener are currently assigned to the unit, the position is federally funded through the PSN (Project Safe Neighborhood) grant. Along with his enforcement duties, his duties under the grant are to ensure that there is dissemination, of pertinent information pertaining to gangs and their activities, to the necessary units and entities. The PSN gang coordinator is to act as a liaison with the Anderson County Community Gang Task Force. He is also responsible for conducting community awareness seminars, to schools and community groups, when requested. He also conducts agency training.

The mission of the Anderson Police Department Gang Enforcement Unit is to improve the quality of life in the community by suppressing gang activity and decreasing the violent crime rate as it relates to “Street Level Crime” perpetrated by members of criminal street gangs. The Unit supports the Mission Statement and values of the City of Anderson through various strategies of “Gang Interdiction” and “Intelligence Led Policing” which include investigative techniques, proactive strategies, intelligence gathering, and arrests. The Gang Unit will identify, monitor, gather information on, investigate for prosecution and take enforcement action on gangs and
their members.

The Gang Enforcement unit was formed in 2006, for the purpose of removing the threat of gangs, guns, drugs and gang related criminal activity from the streets of the city of Anderson. The unit has been successful in reducing violent crime and impacting the threat that gangs and extremists pose to the community, through targeting various crime locations and criminals. The unit works with all divisions of the Anderson Police Department, as well as, in concert with other local, state and federal agencies. Both officers are currently federally deputized and are part of the FBI’s Violent Gang Task Force which enables some of the cases to be adopted and prosecuted on the federal level.

In February 2009 Anderson Police Chief Martin Brown and Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper combined resources and formed the Anderson Gang Task Force, which is comprised of the APD Gang Enforcement Unit and a member of the Sheriff’s Office C.A.T.C.H. Team. This newly formed task force will operate county wide, which will provide both agencies with additional resources to effectively combat gangs and their various crimes.

If you have any questions or wish to provide any information about possible gang involvement, activity, graffiti, or other criminal activity you can contact an officer with the Gang Enforcement Unit at: (864) 261-7137 or e-mail mbracone@cityofandersonsc.com or Deputy Mark Gregory of the Anderson County Sheriffs Office can be reached at (864) 260-4400 or e-mail at mgregory@andersonsheriff.com.

Housing Authority Officer

This Officer is expected to keep up with and have a thorough knowledge of criminal law in an effort to identify, isolate and neutralize problem areas within housing complexes.

Some of the effective strategies have traditionally included:

Working with narcotics investigators in an attempt to apprehend suspected drug dealers.
Compiling information regarding criminal activity occurring in various residences and acting upon this information in a fashion that leads to prosecution and evection of these people.
Placing non-residents who lack a legitimate reason for being present on the properties on trespass notice.

The Housing Authority Officer participates in monthly meetings at the Housing Authority Office and conducts training for the residents of in the Housing Authority. This officer also sets up training and educational programs for the residents by other officers in the Anderson Police Department.

K9 Unit

The Anderson Police Department K-9 Division was started in 1995 by Lieutenant Randal Vaughn. For years Lt. Vaughn had a vision of a K-9 division ultimately consisting of 5 teams. It took 5 years before his dream was fulfilled in 1996. Lt. Vaughn retired with his K-9 Division in full swing. The first dog to join the department in 1996 was “Eros” a German shepherd from Europe. Eros’ handler was Narcotics Investigator Mike Dickson. Eros was a Narcotic detection and tracking dog. The next two dogs to come onboard in the late spring of 1996 were Chuck and Ringo. Both were Belgium Malinois, pronounce Mal-in-wah, also from Europe. Chuck’s handler was Cpl. Wes Barnes and Ringo’s handler was PFC Travis Scott. Later Ringo was transferred to a new handler Ptl. Holly Hamilton who had recently come off active duty with the United States Army where she served as a K-9 handler.

Later that year the last two dogs were brought onboard. Two more Belgium Malinois named Iwan, pronounced Ivan, and Marco. Iwan was assigned to Ptl. Steve Burroughs and Marco to PFC Jim Stewart. Four of the dogs were assigned to the four patrol shifts (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta) and Eros was assigned to Vice / Narcotics. We called them the “CRIME” dogs because the first letter of their names spelled crime.

Chuck, Ringo, Iwan, Marco, Eros (C.R.I.M.E.)
This was not intentional as we just used the names they had on their papers. The “CRIME” name was a coincidence, but it confirmed that the City of Anderson Police Department’s K-9 Division was meant to be. Each dog was immediately considered apart of the Police Family and proved to be an essential asset
to the department and citizens they served. Of the original “Crime Dogs” all have since passed on to “The Rainbow Bridge”. I am glad to say that with the exception of one all of them served the community with relentless courage and no fear. They retired to live at home with their handlers. They died from complications due to old age. Chuck was the only K-9 to die while still on active duty. He died in May of 2001 from heat stress aggravated by an undetected heart condition. He was seven years old.

The Rainbow Bridge

There is a bridge connecting Heaven and Earth. It is called “The Rainbow Bridge “because of its many colors. Just this side of The Rainbow Bridge, there is a land of meadows, hills, and valleys with lush green grass. When a beloved pet dies, the pet goes to this place. There is always food and water and warm Spring weather. Those old and frail animals are young again. Those who have been maimed are made whole again. They play all day with each other. But there is only one thing missing. They are not with their special person who loved them on earth. So, each day, they run and play until the day comes when one suddenly stops playing and looks up. The nose twitches, the ears are up, the eyes are staring, and this one runs from the group. You have been seen. When you and your special friend meet, you take him or her in your arms and embrace. Your face is kissed again and again. You look once more into the eyes of your trusting pet. Then, you cross The Rainbow Bridge together, never again to be separated.

Since the original Crime dogs, the APD has had K-9 Rocket who was a bomb/patrol dog his original handler was Officer Scott Todd and then Officer Benjy Partian. Rocket is retired and living at home.There was K-9 Dash another bomb dog who served with Anderson County Sheriff’s Office before coming to the city. His handler was Officer Holly Hamilton. He has retired and is living with Holly.

Today we have three German Shepherds. These K-9s work in the Patrol Division. K-9 Peppa is handled by PFC Cory Barrow K-9 Bandit is handled by Officer Brian P. Picard and K-9 Deuce is handled by Officer Jan Debleay. Both dogs originally came from Europe and their responsibilities are to detect the odor of illicit narcotic drugs, track lost and missing persons, find discarded articles and evidence such as a gun tossed into the brush or a field by a fleeing suspect. They also search buildings and areas for suspects. They are also trained to apprehend suspects and protect their handlers.

Officer Brian P. Picard and K-9 Bandit have been partnered together since May 2012. K-9 Bandit is 5 years old and is always ready to work. Although trained as a working dog, Bandit is exceptionally affectionate and will never turn away from a good petting or head rub. When off duty Bandit has his favorite toy ball and two fur friends at home to keep him active. Officer Picard and Bandit are certified in narcotics, apprehension, tracking, article, area, and building searches. As a team, the two truly work as one.

Officer Jan Debleay and K-9 Deuce have been partnered together since July 2012. Officer Debleay is a first time K-9 handler. Deuce is 6 years old and has a prior history of patrol work. When he is not working Deuce likes to play and give affection to his family. Officer Debleay and Deuce are trained in narcotics, apprehension, tracking, article, area, and building searches. This K-9 team works great together and continues to grow together. All of the dogs are extremely friendly and sociable. They are available for school and civic group demonstrations. While we at the A.P.D. believe in having only social dogs please remember they are trained to bite on command but they are not mean or aggressive. They live for the attention given to them by their handlers, children and the citizens they protect. So when you see them out and about ask the handler first before you approach any police dog. I feel certain the handler would love to show off his K-9 partner.

I know the dogs will appreciate all the attention you care to give them.

Narcotics

The investigation of vice and drug related activities in the City of Anderson area is the responsibility of the Anderson Police Department Vice/Narcotics Division. The Division consists of a sergeant, and 4 investigators. Our mission is to work with the community and other law enforcement agencies as well as other Divisions within the Department. Our Division is a “pro-active” type of law enforcement and can only be successful if its efforts are supported by the citizens of Anderson. The Vice/Narcotics Division utilizes community input and involvement as well as other agencies’ and officers’ information to assess problem areas within the City.

The most common types of drugs seized in the City of Anderson include marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, and methamphetamine. Other less common drugs include but are not limited to, heroin, LSD, and the so called date rape drugs Ecstasy, GHB, Ketamine, and Rohypnol. These types of drugs have been in existence for a long time but the popularity and abuse have continued to increase significantly. The long-term effects of these drugs lead to addiction and the potential of overdose is extremely high. Drug assets include cash, vehicles, houses, businesses, jewelry, and any other direct proceeds from the sale of drugs.

The Division traces drug dealers’ assets and coordinates with the seizure attorney in the solicitor’s office and the courts. The Division conducts auctions on a periodic basis to dispose of seized assets. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend these auctions. Training is important in all aspects of policing. Due to the fact that the Vice/Narcotics Division is a specialized Division, Narcotics Investigators need to be trained to investigate drug and vice related incidents. This training focuses on undercover investigations, surveillance techniques, case investigation, as well as drug analysis training. Most of the training is administered through the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and/or schools that provide this type of training.

We use citizen complaints, anonymous calls, calls for service, as well as cooperating individuals to identify subjects or areas that have illegal drug activity. Our Division is responsible for apprehending subjects engaged in drug trafficking, prostitution, gambling, illegal liquor, and any type of organized criminal activity. When these areas or individuals are identified, we begin to build cases that will be prosecuted by the Municipal Court, Tenth Judicial Circuit, and/or the Federal Judicial District of South Carolina.
The information that is most valuable in reporting suspected narcotics violations are a complete address, a complete description of the subjects involved to include name, gender, race, approximate age or date of birth, height, weight, hair color and distinguishing traits.

Other information that is necessary includes any vehicle information (make, model, color, year, vehicle registration) as well as time frame of suspicious activity (specific times like 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM). If you would like to give information about drugs being sold or someone who is selling drugs, please call us at 864- 231-2277. If information provided leads to an arrest and conviction you may be eligible for a reward. All information will remain confidential. Narcotics Investigators are available to come to your community meeting, business, and school to give presentations on drug abuse, drug recognition, and enforcement. The best tool for the fight against illegal drugs is knowledge. Knowledge of the different types of drugs that an individual can encounter as well as the abuse of both prescription drugs and illegal narcotics is of the utmost importance to prevent abuse and addiction. The Drug Enforcement Administration provides a significant amount of information focusing on the different types of drugs
in our society today.

Visit https://www.dea.gov/druginfo/factsheets.shtml to view the definitions and facts of the most common drugs and
their use and abuse.

Here are just a few website for further information about how to talk to your kids about drugs, contact the City of Anderson Police
Department.

www.usdoj.gov/dea
www.usdoj.gov/ndic
www.health.org
www.inhalants.org
www.fda.gov
www.drugfreeamerica.org
www.ncjrs.gov/
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
www.drugnet.ne

School Resource Officer

In January 1998, the Police Department placed an officer in a public school on a daily basis. The Police Department to this day, believes that a learning atmosphere wherein students feel safe from harm and are in reality actually safe will foster both an eagerness for learning and a healthy respect for other students.

Two of the objectives of the SRO program are to:

Increase students understanding of the law and criminal justice system
Improve adolescent’s attitudes and reduce juveniles fear about law enforcement by familiarizing the student body with law enforcement personnel

The Police Department currently has a school resource officer in three Anderson School District 5 Schools and the Anderson County Alternative School. The officers are listed below and can be reached at the following numbers or by email.

Southwood Middle School
McCants Middle School
Hanna Westside Extension Campus
Alternative School
Calhoun Academy of Arts
Concord Elementary School
Nevitt Forest Elementary School
Whitehall Elementary School

For more information regarding School Resource Officers please call Support Services at 864-231-1721

SWAT Unit

The Anderson Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics Team is trained and equipped to respond to critical incidents to include:

High-Risk Warrants
Hostage Situations
Barricaded Suspects
Active Shooters
Personal Protection (VIP)
Tactical CBRNE Operations
Manhunts
Any other Tactical problem designated

APD SWAT has numerous high-value locations within om jurisdictional boundaries. to include the Federal Courthouse. Anderson Area Medical Center & Health Campus. Anderson University. and various public school facilities. In addition to these locations, the APD SWAT Team also participates in a comprehensive security program with the Oconee Nuclear Plant. and has entered into MOU’s with several of the smaller sun-landing municipal agencies. Currently, the APD SWAT Team responds to approximately 24 incidents a year. with the bulk of these being high-risk warrant service. APD also has a five (5) person Crisis Negotiation Team. and a folly operational Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team that can respond with S\VAT on an as needed basis

Training Division

The ability of the Anderson Police Department to achieve its objectives is dependent on its continued ability to sustain and instill knowledge and skills within the officers and civilian staff it employs. Workplace management, training, and planning are imperative to ensure achievement in the departmental objectives. Changing external environments, threat conditions, and other factors have emerged and changed the manner in which officers are managed and trained. The very nature of police work itself is characterized by complex challenges. New technologies, emergence of criminal street gangs, and heightened fears of terrorism among other changes have
all impacted and transformed law enforcement worldwide as well as the APD.

The Anderson Police Department is faced with the ongoing challenge of responding to crime and also being responsive to community needs. Members of the Anderson Police Department realize that maintaining professionalism requires the establishment of educational and training standards. Such commitment to training is a means toward the goal of better law enforcement practices. When viewed this way, training has to be ongoing, and better policing has to be a constant pursuit. Reaching the goal will span the entire career of the individual officer. It is a lifetime endeavor. Part of the reason is that the dimensions of Anderson’s crime problem have changed and will change again. The Support Services Division of the Anderson Police Department was created to provide basic and advanced training to its officers and civilian staff as well as serve community needs. It is a crucial and integral part of the agency and one of six divisions under the organizational structure of the police department. The other divisions include Uniform Patrol, Investigations, Special Operations, Detention, and Administrative Services. These divisions require a well-trained and skilled workforce that is developed by the training unit. Excellence in training requires a professional and experienced staff. Currently serving in the training unit are:

Captain Michael Bracone
Sgt Danny Hart
Sgt Russell McClellan
Sgt Melissa Frazier
COPS Division – Lieutenant Vincent Smith
Sgt Jamie Brock
PFC Jennifer Cavanaugh

The training unit logs hundreds of training hours each year in various subjects basic and advanced. Certified law enforcement officers must maintain continuing education hours that are reported every three years to the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy for recertification. In addition officers must demonstrate their proficiency with firearms and also in emergency vehicle operations each year. Officers within specialized units must obtain advanced certifications such as Forensics, Investigations, and Drug Enforcement.

As we move toward the future our plans are to develop further the methods which we use to train our police officers and staff. Changes in the future require a corresponding response, not just in the technology the APD utilizes to deal with whatever way the crime problem manifests itself. If the broader goal is better law enforcement services, and better training becomes only one means toward that end, it is to our advantage to look in a host of directions to find other means which include partnerships with other training and educational institutions, collaboration with surrounding law enforcement agencies, and more efficient methods of training delivery. This will be an ongoing process and continuous pursuit to find new methods to meet new needs. The following are examples of such initiatives:

Career Paths– The training unit has implemented a career path program to identify individual officers’ goals and interests. It is our desire to better prepare officers for the future specialized positions for which they will apply.

Leadership Training– The training unit has initiated courses in “First Line Supervision” and is in the process of identifying pathways to receiving supervisory training prior to promotion.

Distance Learning/Alternative Delivery– The training unit is participating in web-based learning through the FBI Virtual Academy, The Criminal Justice Academy’s Law Enforcement Training Network, and the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force E-Drug Training System.

Partnerships– The training unit is currently partnering with educational institutions such as Tri-County Technical College and Anderson University to further the education of individual officers as well as collaborate on training events. The department is currently participating in multijurisdictional training initiatives with Louisiana State University NCBRT, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training, and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.

Community Training– The training unit is currently working with various community organizations to provide quality instruction in subjects such as “Terrorism Awareness”, “Crime Prevention”, “Workplace Violence”, and other specialized topics as requested. Anderson police officers are challenged day to day and to take on greater responsibilities and to engage in complex problem-solving. In furtherance of this challenge the officer must be able to interact with the community, the victims, and the offenders in strategic ways and to maintain the ability to exercise a substantial amount of discretion and judgment. The training unit of the Anderson Police Department stands ready to meet the training challenges of the officers and staff to prepare them for the next call, the next assignment, or the next promotion. The transformation from recruit to an experienced professional officer cannot be accomplished without all of the basic
units of education and training provided by the APD training unit and its partnerships

Volunteer Program

To develop and provide a volunteer program as part of the Anderson City Police Department for those citizens that have an interest in assisting the department
through their time and effort. To assist the Department in achieving a relationship with our community that enhances the service of the police officers in the opinion
of the city’s citizens. To supplement the services of the Department and its officers, so that the knowledge and training of these officers may be utilized more
directly for the aid and comfort of the citizens. And in return for their services the volunteer receives the satisfaction and pride in given to the Police Department and
the community they serve.

If you are interested in the opportunity to be a part of the Anderson City Police Department’s Volunteer Program, call to express your desire and request information about the program

Warrants

The Criminal Warrant Division is responsible for the service of all criminal warrants that are issued by the courts, and any other
documents of arrest. The Warrant Division works hand-in-hand with all divisions in the police department, utilizing various computer databases to enter and maintain every warrant received and to investigate the whereabouts of these individuals with the goal of eventually bringing about their arrest. Officers assigned to the Warrant Division are also tasked with the responsibility of participating in fugitive raids with local and state law enforcement agencies, and officers of the Warrant Division are deputized to participate in the United States Marshals Service Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Anderson Police Department Warrants Division concentrates on serving all types of criminal warrants. A warrant is a judicial writ authorizing an officer to execute a judgment or make a search, seizure, or an arrest. This division serves an average of 300 to
500 warrants during a given month.

Warrant Division primary duties:

Attempt to locate suspects
Serve warrants on suspects
Assist other division(s) in the department when needed
Transport prisoners to other counties
Assist in extraditing suspects back to our jurisdiction

Types of Warrants:

Bench warrant: A bench warrant is initiated by the judge and issued only for violation of an order or requirement of the Court.
Criminal warrant: Local warrants for such crimes as assault, murder, breaking and entering, larceny, and worthless checks.
Fugitive warrant: Warrant sent from another state where the suspect is believed to be in the city of Anderson.

Questions regarding warrants may be directed to the Warrant Division at (864) 231-2277 ext 1375

Reserve Officer Unit

The City of Anderson Police Reserve Officer Program is comprised of community members. such as yourself, who wish to volunteer as a Police Officer. These officers supplement the full-time officers in a variety of duties throughout the Department including Crime Stoppers, Paramedic support,. Arson investigator. and scn•c on the SWAT team.

The team participates in the South Carolina Law Enforcement Network in the Tenth Judicial Circuit by assisting in the Patrol’s aggressive checkpoints throughout the year. The major events each year include the South Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Sober or Slammer Campaign against Drunk Driving. The reserve officers patrol in vehicles, on foot patrols, or on bicycle patrol. Reserve Officers receive skilled training at the Police Department and also in partnership with Tri-County Technical College for certification. The Team is also responsible for supplementing and ensuring the safety of all in major events such as road races, parades: recreation and civic center events.

Most Reserve Officers work: with officers but others can qualify to patrol on their own. This program is ideal for individuals who have an established career and do not wish to make a full transition to full-time Police Officer. Reserve Officers can enjoy the best of both worlds. and maintain their chosen career while helping to police within a progressive police department.

TAKING APPLICATIONS

For contact call Sgt.Russell McClellan at 864-231-1721 or rmcclellan@cityofandersonsc.com