Alvin Taylor, former director of the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), was inducted into the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame in Columbia Oct. 30 for his exemplary service to the law enforcement profession in South Carolina.
This honor recognizes individuals in law enforcement who have a proven record of excellence with a meritorious achievement award. In addition to an exemplary record, nominees must also have a minimum of 25 years of law enforcement service. The nominees cannot currently be employed by a law enforcement agency or have been employed in the past five years.
Current SCDNR Director Robert H. Boyles Jr. praised Taylor’s accomplishments and his impact for natural resources protection and conservation in South Carolina. “Alvin Taylor excelled at every aspect of any job he ever undertook,” Boyles said. “He dedicated his professional life to improvement of natural resources, law enforcement and stewardship of our public trust.”
After graduating from Clemson University, Taylor was hired in 1977 by the S.C. Wildlife and Marine Resources Department (now known as SCDNR). His first job was as a wildlife officer who specialized in boating education classes and investigating boating accidents statewide. He rose through the ranks and was promoted to lieutenant in 1989. Taylor became a certified SCUBA diver and supervised the agency’s Aquatic Investigations and Recovery Unit dive team for many years. It was in his role as a lieutenant that Taylor became known as an expert in boating laws, investigations and education. This was exemplified when he became the agency’s primary liaison with the U.S. Coast Guard regarding boat accidents.
While a captain from 1991-1992, Taylor instituted the groundbreaking and long-lasting Boating Safety Action Force (B-SAF) team specializing in boating enforcement and detection of boaters operating under the influence. This novel approach of saturating waterways statewide with targeted enforcement resulted in the removal of hundreds of impaired boat operators from public waterways, greatly increasing boating safety for the public.
Taylor’s passion for boating safety and compassion for people was evident during the process to get the Boating Safety and Reform Act of 1999, or Drew’s Law, passed. Eleven-year-old Drew Smith lost his life due to an impaired boat operator ramming into the boat that Drew and his father were fishing from on Lake Murray. Taylor worked closely with Drew’s family and South Carolina state legislators to advocate for the passage of the bill, which among many things raised the penalties for boating under the influence (BUI).
After serving as a major from 1992 until 2004, Taylor became the colonel and deputy director of SCDNR’s Law Enforcement Division. As the agency’s top law enforcement official, he was responsible for nearly 300 employees, a fleet of 1,600 motorized vehicles and equipment, and an $8.6 million budget. Under Taylor’s stewardship of the state’s money, he was able to upgrade the Law Enforcement Division’s communication’s system to a secure digital network, increasing the safety of law enforcement officers.
In 2012, Taylor was named director of SCDNR. He became responsible for five divisions and almost a thousand employees. Among his accomplishments, he worked to protect land in South Carolina for use as Wildlife Management Areas and Heritage Preserves, making the total land protected more than 1.1 million acres. He was also responsible for expanding the Youth Shooting Sports Program that included archery and clay target sports and reached more than 4,000 students in schools and clubs across South Carolina.
Taylor continues to volunteer for the community, currently serving as the board chair of the Harry Hampton Wildlife Fund. Public education in the principles of wildlife and marine resources management and conservation is a major thrust of the fund’s purpose. Through his continuous and diligent efforts, he was instrumental in the donation of $195,800 from the Hampton Fund in March 2024 to be used by SCDNR for statewide projects including Camp Wildwood, Operation Game Thief (anti-poaching effort), and the Palmetto Sportsman’s Classic.
