By Betsy Finklea
LATTA—The Latta Police Department was recognized recently as an Honor Roll Department by the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Association (SCLEOA).
Brett Camp, the president of the SCLEOA and a native of Latta, came to the department last week to share the good news with Chief Bobby Powers and to make a presentation to him.
Camp is currently a captain in the Criminal Investigation Division at the Florence County Sheriff’s Office.
Latta is being recognized as an Honor Roll Department because all officers with the department are members of the SCLEOA. Latta has been an honor roll department for over 20 years.
The only other agency in Dillon County who has achieved Honor Roll Department status is the Lake View Police Department.
The SCLEOA is the largest law enforcement officers organization in South Carolina with approximately 8,000 members.
SCLEOA was created in 1941 and serves as the “voice of law enforcement in South Carolina.” officers at the federal, state and local levels are part of the organization.
Members receive all types of benefits for joining the organization such as legal representation, line of duty death benefits, and training and networking opportunities across the state. The organization has a lobbying and legislative agenda. They have an annual conference, and members receive a newsletter.
The organization is also involved in community service.
According to the bylaws, the purposes of the association are to promote:
• “Professional interests which are common to those engaged in the fields of law enforcement and corrections.”
•”Identification and resolution of problems facing the fields of law enforcement and corrections.”
• “Cooperative action among criminal justice practitioners by advancing the common purposes of association members.”
• “Action which best preserves and protects constitutional liberties and the safety of the public.”
• “Activities designed to afford the greatest economy and efficiency in law enforcement and corrections.”
• “All due consideration and expression of opinion regarding matters which affect law enforcement and corrections.”
• “Training within law enforcement and corrections professions which will develop professional leaders and administrators.”
• “Cooperation with other law enforcement and corrections associations.”
• “The promoting and engaging in all lawful activities in furtherance of the foregoing purposes, or incidental thereto.” As president and the upcoming past-president, Camp will have a life membership in the organization.
As president, Camp “serves as Chief Elected officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the association” and has many duties related to the office.
When a new president is elected and Camp becomes past-president, he will serve as President of the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Foundation.
For more information on the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Association, visit their website at www.scleoa.org.