Cayce Police Chief Joins Staff at South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Cayce Police Chief Takes on a New Role as Staff Member at South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law

Cayce, SC – City of Cayce Police Chief, Chris Cowan, Makes Career Move

July 4, 2024 – The City of Cayce announced yesterday the departure of its Police Chief, Chris Cowan. Cowan, a veteran in law enforcement for over 30 years, will be joining the staff at South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law. He had served as the head of the Cayce Police Department since September 2021.

Chief Cowan’s Impact and Legacy

Mayor Elise Partin expressed her gratitude for the impact Chief Cowan made during his time in Cayce. Notably, he aided the transition from a Public Safety model to an individual Police Department. In addition, he helped instigate safe driving initiatives, furthered dialogues and connections between the department and citizens, and established systems that maintained an impressive average 2 minute 9 second response time for emergencies.

Mayor Pro Tem and former Cayce Director of the Department of Public Safety, Tim James, applauded Chief Cowan’s achievement in decreasing the city’s crime rates, attributing the success to the Chief’s personal and professional initiatives. According to him, under Chief Cowan’s leadership, officers saw a pay increase, technology and equipment upgrades, implementation of senior and student safety programs, launch of award-winning crime prevention programs, and improvement in traffic safety measures.

Cowan’s Statement

Cowan expressed his love for the Cayce Police Department team and his pride in the initiatives they’ve built. He stated, “The position at the University is the right opportunity for me and for my family. But I look forward to working with City leaders, our department staff, and our community to see our upcoming events and initiatives come to fruition.”

Cayce Expresses Gratitude

City Councilman Byron Thomas stated, “Chief Cowan is a well-respected leader in the law enforcement community, and I am confident he will do amazing things at his new endeavor. The City of Cayce has been blessed to have his service and he will be greatly missed. Thank you, Chief Cowan, for your leadership and for your commitment to serving the people of Cayce.”

Interim Police Chief

An Interim Chief of Police will be announced by Cayce City Manager, Tracy Hegler, at a later date.