Berkeley County Chapter

Berkeley County is a county in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2010 census, its population was 177,843. Its county seat is Moncks Corner. Berkeley County, South Carolina is one of the fastest growing areas in the Southeast. Berkeley is a dynamic and progressive county with an extraordinary quality of life enjoyed by visitors and residents alike. World-renowned companies such as Google and DuPont have chosen to expand their operations into Berkeley County. For over thirty years The Berkeley Chamber has been the major force in the county for economic prosperity and the area’s healthy growth in business development. The Berkeley Chamber is working closely with our members, and elected officials, evaluating the needs and concerns to develop and shape our programs and initiatives and strategies for our Chamber. Overseeing the diverse needs of 500+ members in Berkeley County and surrounding communities, we serve as the County’s leading resource for information while providing current and future community and business leaders’ opportunities to become involved in shaping the future of our fast-growing region.

All schools in the Berkeley County School District are fully accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) process. Recently, however, the district began the pursuit of an internationally-recognized mark of quality – AdvancED District Accreditation. This process for District Accreditation began in 2009 and was completed in November 2010. District Accreditation, as a quality assurance process, validates Berkeley County School District’s outstanding accomplishments and provides a systematic approach to improving student performance results over time. District Accreditation applies the three components of accreditation – high standards, continuous improvement, and quality assurance – to the entire district to ensure alignment and support between and among the district and its schools. This process provides a comprehensive framework for continually improving student learning and district effectiveness.

Law Enforcement

In addition to local municipal Police Departments, the entire county is protected by the Berkeley County Sheriffs Department. Headquartered in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, the Sheriff's Office is divided into many divisions:

The Patrol Division consists of four squads of deputies who alternately patrol the entire county in twelve-hour shifts. The Patrol Division responds to all calls dispatched by 911 operators.

The Investigations Division is a team of highly trained detectives who investigate violent crimes and property crimes. Normal office hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, however, the designated detective on duty is available to respond in the evening and on weekends.

The Narcotics Division investigates drug activity and is available to receive information 24 hours a day.

Special Response Team (S.R.T) consists of highly trained deputies who respond to crisis situations such as manhunts, armed robberies, hostage situations. They are activated by the Command Staff when the need arises. The team members are trained in special weapons use and in hostage negotiations.

K-9 Unit Each patrol squad has a canine officer and trained canine. They are available to search for contraband, guns, evidence and missing persons.

The Records Office is located in the Sheriff's Office and will provide copies of incident reports when requested in person.

The Training Office is located at the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office. These new County facilities are used for training Berkeley County law enforcement officers,reserve deputies, and handling Citizen Academies to inform the public of what the job entales of all deputies at the department. Deputies receive training from in-house certified instructors as well as Academy training via satellite. This training is required in order to meet State certification requirements.