By Betsy Finklea
The Town of Latta Police Department’s failure to pay a civil penalty regarding a non-compliance issue has resulted from further action from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy.
The matter was heard by the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy’s Training Council back in May, and the town was assessed a $39,900 fine for non-compliance. The matter regarded whether uncertified Latta police officers were working alone.
The Latta Town Council had voted at a special meeting to appeal the fine, but no mention of this appeal is made in the letter.
According to a letter that The Dillon County News, LLC, obtained from the S.C. Criminal Justice Academy that was sent via e-mail and certified U.S. Mail today, June 23, to Chief Zane Bryant and others, this penalty has not been paid.
The letter addressed to Chief Zane Bryant states that “On May 20, 2025, LETC (Law Enforcement Training Council) ordered your agency to pay a civil penalty for non-compliance. The order required the civil penalty to be paid within thirty (30) days or all law enforcement certifications for you and your officers would be held in abeyance. To date, CJA (Criminal Justice Academy) has not received payment. Therefore, effective immediately the following officers law enforcement certifications are held in abeyance:
(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE CERTIFIED OFFICERS ARE LISTED HERE.)
The following students will not be allowed to attend CJA to obtain their certifications:
(EDITOR’S NOTE: THE UNCERTIFIED OFFICERS ARE LISTED HERE.)
“An individual whose law enforcement certification has been held in abeyance by the council is not authorized to enforce the laws or ordinances of this State or any political subdivision thereof. An individual who has had his law enforcement certification held in abeyance as a result of a non-compliant law enforcement agency shall not be prohibited from regaining law enforcement certification if he is subsequently employed or appointed by a compliant law enforcement certification if he subsequently employed or appointed by a compliant law enforcement agency, provided he is otherwise qualified to be certified. Further, in the event the council holds law enforcement certifications in abeyance at a non-compliant law enforcement agency, no law enforcement officer shall go without his or her regular pay, compensation, and benefits.” S.C. Code of Laws Section 23-23-100 (d) (emphasis added)
Once the civil penalty is paid in full, the officers will be reissued their law enforcement certifications and will be authorized to enforce the laws of this state.”
Sincerely,
Lewis J. Swindler, Jr.
Director
“CC”ed in the letter are Teresa Mason, Mayor of Latta; Janette Dupree, Municipal Judge for the Town of Latta; Solicitor Paul M. Burch, Jr.; and Sheriff Jamie Hamilton as well as the officers named in the letter.
Chief Zane Bryant declined to comment deferring to the Town Administrator. The Dillon County News, LLC, has contacted Town Administrator Daniel Rogers and Assistant Town Administrator Brad Coward, but had not heard back at the time of this posting. We will update this post when we here from them.
Sheriff Jamie Hamilton said the Dillon County Sheriff’s Office will be covering the Town of Latta until this matter is resolved.
Town of Latta Police Department’s Failure to Pay A Civil Penalty Results in Further Action From S.C. Criminal Justice Academy
