S.C. Code Ann. § 23-6-400 – Intent of article; Division of Training and Continuing Education created; minimum standards for selection and training; goal for standards to exceed minimum; definitions

(A) There is created a Division of Training and Continuing Education to operate a training program for law enforcement officers and other persons employed in the criminal justice system in this State and to establish and maintain minimum standards in law enforcement selection and training.
(B) It is the intent of this article to encourage all law enforcement officers, departments, and agencies within this State to adopt standards which are higher than the minimum standards implemented pursuant to this article, and these minimum standards in no way may be considered sufficient or adequate in those cases where higher standards have been adopted or proposed. Nothing herein may be construed to preclude an employing agency from establishing qualifications and standards for hiring or training law enforcement officers which exceed the minimum standards set by the department, nor, unless specifically stated, may anything herein be construed to affect any sheriff, constable, or other law enforcement officer elected under the provisions of the Constitution of this State.
(C) The advisory council may recommend to the director methods to maximize training opportunities for law enforcement officers and criminal justice personnel, to coordinate training, and to set standards for the law enforcement and criminal justice service, all of which are imperative to upgrading law enforcement to professional status.
(D) Whenever used in this article, and for the purposes of this article, unless the context clearly denotes otherwise:
1. (1) "Law enforcement officer" means an appointed officer or employee hired by and regularly on the payroll of the State or any of its political subdivisions, who is granted statutory authority to enforce all or some of the criminal, traffic, and penal laws of the State and who possesses, with respect to those laws, the power to effect arrests for offenses committed or alleged to have been committed.
2. (2) "Advisory council" means the Law Enforcement Training Advisory Council created by this article.