Divisions
The Animal Control Division of the Simpsonville Police Department is committed to protecting the safety of citizens and animals within the city limits our community. The Simpsonville Police Department’s animal control officers (ACOs) handle a significant number of calls that involve both domestic and wild animal complaints. These uniformed officers also provide investigative support and followup regarding allegations of animal cruelty and neglect. Our goals are to create partnerships within the community to promote responsible pet ownership, decrease the overpopulation of domestic pets through spay-neuter programs, and to place adoptable animals in good homes.
Our Animal Control Officer is a certified Class I police officer. They maintain several state and national certifications and work closely with the staff at the Greenville County Humane Society as well as the Department of Natural Resources to provide a high level of service to the Simpsonville community. Please refer to the City of Simpsonville Ordinances regarding responsible pet ownership within city limits. Also, note at this time the Animal Control Division can only accept dogs, no cats or exotic animals can be housed in the city kennel.
CONTACT INFORMATION
We have an ACO on duty Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm. There is always an ACO on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call the Simpsonville Animal Control Division at (864) 908-8942 if you need an ACO, also at Police Department’s Non-Emergency Number at (864) 967-9536. For questions regarding “What is a Nuisance Animal”, please click on this LINK for information provided by the Department of Natural Resources.
UPSTATE VET EMERGENCY AND SPECIALTY CARE
Call 864-233-7650. The emergency clinic is a fully staffed after-hours emergency facility in the Greenville area, located at 393 Woods Lake Road. The Upstate Vet Emergency Care Clinic is open from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and 24 hours a day on weekends, starting at 6 p.m. Friday until 8 a.m. Monday.
PET POISON HELPLINE
The Pet Poison Helpline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be reached at 800-213-6680. There is a $35 per case fee charged.
DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL/ CITY OF SIMPSONVILLE
Call the Public Works Division at 864- 967-9531 for assistance with the disposal of dead animals on public property or roads in the Simpsonville city limits. If the dead animal is on private property, the property owner is responsible for removal.
DEAD ANIMAL REMOVAL/COUNTY OF GREENVILLE
Contact the Public Services and Facilities Department at 864-467-7016 for assistance with the disposal of dead animals on public property or roads. If the dead animal is on private property, the property owner is responsible for removal.
GREENVILLE COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL
Call 864-467-7595 for animal control response outside of the city Limits of Simpsonville.
GREENVILLE COUNTY ANIMAL CARE SERVICES
Call 864-467-3950 for Greenville County Animal Care Services. All animals picked up within the city limits of Simpsonville by City Animal Control are transported and housed at this facility for five days unless reclaimed.
GREENVILLE HUMANE SOCIETY
The Humane Society is located at 305 Airport Road and can be reached at 864-242-3626. The Humane Society feeds, houses, and provides medical care for unwanted animals in the Greenville community. Contact them to adopt a pet needing a good home.
WILDLIFE REHAB OF GREENVILLE
The Wildlife Rehab center instructs callers on what to do when an injured or orphaned animal or bird of prey is found. Wildlife Rehab of Greenville is a nonprofit, all-volunteer organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and release of injured and orphaned wildlife in the seven counties of the Upstate. You can contact them at 864-233-0339.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR)
The SCDNR provides help with nature and wildlife around the home and can be contacted at 800-922-5431.
The Simpsonville Police Department employs 9 Communications Specialists.
The Communications Center is a part of the Operations Division of the police department and is a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) which handles approximately 23,000 calls for service for the police department, 2,400 fire calls, and 60,000 telephone and E911 calls each year. As the PSAP, the communications division has the responsibility to staff and answer, on a 24-hour basis, the telephones upon which calls for service are received. This includes 911 emergency calls (police, fire, and EMS). 
Communication Specialists are responsible for gathering and relaying information, dispatching calls for the Simpsonville Police Department, Simpsonville Fire Department, and for transferring emergency medical calls to Greenville County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). They also maintain the department’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) records and arrest warrant files for the police department.
As the first point of contact with the public, their job is to be the calm voice on the telephone that gathers all the information needed to get a caller the help they need as quickly as possible. They are the calm in the storm. Communications Specialists save seconds and seconds save lives.
The Criminal Investigations Division’s (CID) primary purpose is to conduct follow-up investigations on various crimes against citizens and/or their property that occur within the city limits of Simpsonville. The division is made up of multiple investigators that are assigned specific cases to follow up with. Investigators normally are assigned cases that apply to their area of expertise. However, investigators may also be assigned case types that fall outside their normal investigations. The investigations division is under the direct supervision of Lt. Jay Weibel.
For general inquiries into the investigations division, please contact Lt. Jay Weibel at jweibel@simpsonvillepd.com.
Investigator Responsibilities
Investigators plan and conduct thorough criminal and other investigations. The investigator reviews evidence and reports, identify suspects, obtain and serves search warrants and conducts searches, obtains arrest warrants, apprehends and arrests suspects, interviews victims, and witnesses, questions suspects, maintains communication with informants, etc. The Investigations Division plans and implements special operations and activities, including undercover operations, stakeouts, and other surveillance activities that might be necessary to complete an investigation. They prepare cases for court, attend hearings and provide court testimony as necessary. Contact is maintained with the division supervisor who is kept informed as the case develops. Investigators can also assist other officers with investigative duties as required. While the department has the use of the Greenville County Forensics Department to process crime scenes, our CID will usually process the crime scene themselves. Our investigators are equipped with advanced forensic examination equipment such as fingerprint kits, complex camera equipment, night vision equipment, and other surveillance equipment. We also have the ability to generate photos from surveillance cameras in the local stores.
Investigative Units
On this website, the investigators have secure E-mail accounts. You can send any Investigator within this Department a CONFIDENTIAL email by using the links below. These emails are viewed strictly by the Investigator allowing you to forward any information about drug, criminal, or vice activity occurring in the City of Simpsonville without fear of it being seen by others. We want your information to help us solve cases.
White Collar
The investigator assigned to this unit is responsible for cases that involve some type of financial crime. Examples of these crimes are Credit Card Fraud, Forgery, Obtaining Money by False Pretense over $2000, Counterfeiting, and Identity Theft.
Investigator Andrew Guest is assigned to the White Collar Investigations Unit. Contact at aguest@simpsonvillepd.com.
Property Crimes
The Property Crimes investigator is responsible for cases that involve crimes that are directed to the personal property of citizens and businesses. Examples of these types of crimes are Burglary, Grand Larceny, Arson, and Auto Breaking.
Investigator Laurie Johnson is assigned to the Property Crimes Unit. Contact at ljohnson@simpsonvillepd.com
Violent Crimes
The Violent Crimes Unit investigates criminal acts that involve some type of violent act towards citizens. Examples of these crimes are Homicide, Sexual Assault, Robbery, Crimes Against Children, and Carjacking.
Investigator Adam Semanski is assigned to the Violent Crimes Unit. Contact at asemanski@simpsonvillepd.com
Vice and Narcotics
The Criminal Investigations Division also has officers assigned to Narcotics investigations. These investigators work solely on drug, gang, organized crime, and vice-related complaints. Examples of investigations that this unit handles are drug-related cases, prostitution, and gambling. These cases can be referred to the Police Department through various means and can also be self-generated cases that the investigators initiate on their own.
Tips or information regarding vice and narcotics can be forwarded by calling 864-881-2998 or Greenville Crime Stoppers at 864-232-7463. Information providers can choose to remain anonymous.
Please do not send emails to file initial police reports to Investigators. Emails are checked regularly but may not be seen quickly enough to properly investigate your case. To report a crime, please contact 864-967-9536 if it’s a non-emergency and 911 if it is an emergency.
Unsolved Cases & Wanted Persons
The men and women of the Simpsonville Police Department (SPD) are vigilant in their pursuit of justice and will never give up on finding answers or persons who committed heinous crimes in the city of Simpsonville.
The SPD request information from the public concerning unsolved crimes. Very seldom does the commission of a crime go unseen. One individual may have the single piece of evidence that is crucial to solving a crime. No matter how minuscule you may believe the information to be, we are interested in learning. If you have any information regarding the crimes listed below, please contact the SPD. If you wish to remain anonymous we will honor your request.
Disclaimer: This is not a complete list of the unsolved cases within the Simpsonville Police Department. All unsolved cases remain open until solved.
Police Officer training is a vital component to the Simpsonville Police Department and the citizens of Simpsonville. Officer education never ends in the law enforcement profession. The training division is responsible for providing
continuing education to the men and women of the police department so that they provide the best level of service to the citizens. The training program begins as soon as an officer is hired and continues until the day that officer retires. If you have any questions pertaining to training please contact Lt. Scott Magaw at smagaw@simpsonvillepd.com.
BASIC TRAINING
The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy is the primary training unit for all officers in South Carolina. The Simpsonville Police Department’s training division is responsible for preparing new recruits for the academy. While at the academy, officers learn the basic fundamentals of law enforcement. Upon successful graduation of the academy, officers return to the Simpsonville Police Department and enter the Field Training Program. Basic Law Enforcement training is either a 6 or 12-week program based on the recruit’s previous law enforcement experience. More information on the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy can be found at www.sccja.sc.gov.
FIELD TRAINING
The Field Training Program is a 14 week program that provides a structured foundation for newly hired employees to reach the highest level of service. Experienced officers may have a shortened FTO period. The Field Training Program is a critiquing process for the acceptance of the new recruit in the department. While in the Field Training Program, new recruits are assigned to a certified Field Training Officer (FTO). FTOs are veteran officers who have attended a specific training course for training new recruit officers. During the 14 week period, new recruits will be guided in specific functions of the Simpsonville Police Department and taught response techniques for service calls related to the City of Simpsonville and the law enforcement profession. After successful completion of the Field Training Program, new recruits are assigned to a shift as a single operating Patrol Officer in the Uniform Patrol Division.
MANDATED TRAINING
To maintain certification, officers must meet certain training criteria every year. This training is required by the SC Criminal Justice Academy and the South Carolina Training Act. Mandated training topics include Firearms qualifications, Emergency Vehicle Operations, Legal Updates, Criminal Domestic Violence Updates and other approved in-service topics. The training must total a minimum of 40 hours every 3 years. Although the SC Criminal Justice Academy mandates the above aforementioned training hours, the Simpsonville Police Department’s demands are much more stringent.
ADVANCED TRAINING
One of the core values of the Simpsonville Police Department is the career development of its officers and civilian employees. The training division prides itself on providing officers with opportunities to receive advanced training throughout the officer’s career in topics that interest officers or are necessary to their respective position within the department. Advanced training topics include, but are not limited to: Traffic Enforcement and Accident Reconstruction, Criminal Investigations, Vice & Narcotics, Tactical Operations, School and Community Oriented Policing, Emergency Communications, Police Ethics, Biased Based Policing, Cultural Diversity, Police Supervision, and many others. Ample training opportunities are available and provided to all employees.
INSTRUCTORS
The Training Division is comprised several state-certified instructors within the Simpsonville Police Department. Instructor Certifications include Basic Instructor Development, Specific Skills, Firearms, Driving, Ground Defense, DUI and SFST, Speed Measurement Devices, ASP, Taser, OC and others. Our instructors are full time officers assigned to different divisions in the department. Each instructor has been certified in respective fields of instruction.
A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a certified law enforcement officer. Their duties at their designated schools are multi-leveled. First and foremost, they are prepared and trained to protect the students, faculty, and staff from intruders, conduct criminal investigations and patrol the school campus. They also provide security for after school events and sporting events across the state. SRO’s are also educators. They conduct classroom presentations on a variety of law related subjects such as school safety, crime prevention, and conflict resolution. SRO’s are also counselors. They offer advice in law related matters to students, parents, and the school’s staff and administration. At any time, students may come to the SRO with problems that they do not feel comfortable discussing with school officials. The motto of the School Resource Officer Division at the Simpsonville Police Department is simple but clear, they are “Protecting Simpsonville’s Future.”
SRO Morris L. Madden
Hillcrest High School
SRO Madden graduated from Laurens High School in 1989 and earned his Associate’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Spartanburg Methodist College in 1991. He began his law enforcement career as an intern/volunteer with the Laurens Co. Sheriff’s Office in 1992. In 1995, he was hired by the Laurens City Police Dept. He worked for Laurens City Police Dept. over 9 years before accepting a position with the Simpsonville Police Dept. in 2004. After a few short months in the Uniform Patrol Division, he was given the opportunity to transfer over to the Community Support Division and become the School Resource Officer at Hillcrest High School. He gladly accepted and officially began his career as an SRO. He has attended numerous training classes in order to help him become a better SRO such as Basic and Advanced SRO Certification, conflict resolution courses, and crisis and critical response training to name just a few. He thoroughly enjoys being an SRO. Throughout his years at Hillcrest High he has had the opportunity to watch countless numbers of shy, unsure of themselves freshmen grow into well rounded seniors. He takes a small measure of pride with every student that walks across the stage at graduation. By helping provide a safe and secure learning environment, those students were able to grow, learn, and thus graduate from high school. To him that is what being an SRO is all about. Helping your students be successful.
Contact School Resource Officer Madden:
Phone: 864-355-3596
Email: mmadden@simpsonvillepd.com or mlmadden@greenville.k12.sc.us
SRO Amber Barrera
Hillcrest Middle School
Contact School Resource Officer Barrera:
Phone: 864-355-6100
Email: abarrera@simpsonvillepd.com or abarrera@greenville.k12.sc.us
SRO Doug Nicholls
Bryson Middle School
In 1997, SRO Nicholls began his career with the Simpsonville Police Dept. He was assigned to the Patrol Division and after a few short years of service, he later achieved the rank of Corporal. He continued serving as a Patrol Shift Supervisor. Since that time, he has had the privilege of working for other agencies to further his knowledge and skills as a police officer. In 2001, he began serving with the Myrtle Beach Police Dept. He spent time assigned to the Patrol Division, Special Operations Waterfront Division, Bike Patrol Division, and the Street Crimes Division. In 2010, he began serving with the Mauldin Police Dept. and was assigned to the Patrol Division. In 2014, he returned to the Simpsonville Police Dept. and was assigned as the School Resource Officer for Bryson Middle School. Throughout his career as a LEO, being an SRO at Bryson Middle has truly been one of his favorite positions. Bryson Middle School consists of approx. 1,100 students of whom he gets to interact with on a daily basis. His goal as their SRO is maintaining a safe and secure learning environment while having a positive influence of the students and staff as well as reducing crime via use of intervention strategies, proactive policing, and networking.
Contact School Resource Officer Nicholls:
Phone: 864-355-2115
Email: dnicholls@simpsonvillepd.com or dnicholls@greenville.k12.sc.us
SRO Tyler Hancock
Hillcrest High School
thancock@simpsonvillepd.com
864-355-3596
SRO Michael Sweatt
Plain Elementary School
msweatt@simpsonvillepd.com
This is the largest and most visible unit of the Police Department to the general public. These are the men and women who are the first to respond to the calls forservice to the Simpsonville Communications Center. This division consists of certified Class 1 Law Enforcement Officers. These officers proactively patrol all areas of the city to enforce State Law and City Ordinances. They respond to various calls for service, relating to, vehicle accidents, traffic enforcement, domestic disputes, robberies, burglaries, vandalism, noise complaints, drug violations, rendering aid/assistance to the public, and more. These officers put themselves in harm’s way every day they are on the job in order to ensure the citizens and visitors in Simpsonville are safe.
The Uniform Patrol Division is under the command of Cpt. Timmie Williams who reports directly to the Chief of Police. The Captain is responsible for the overall efficient and effective management and administration of the Uniform Patrol Division and exercises direct authority over the Patrol Lieutenant. The Uniform Patrol Division is divided up into (4) four permanent separate shifts that are either full-time day or full-time night: Alpha Shift, Bravo Shift, Charlie Shift, and Delta Shift. Patrol Lieutenant report directly to the Uniform Patrol Division Commander. Each Patrol Team is subdivided into shifts comprised of a Sergeant, a Corporal, and four assigned patrol officers. Each shift Sergeant directly supervises the corporals, who in turn supervise the shifts Patrol Officers and Dispatchers for each shift.
Alpha Shift
Lt. Adam Randolph
Sgt. Karlee Patrikis
Cpl. Matthew Pittman
Bravo Shift
Lt. Scott Menzies
Cpl. Josh Reiner
Charlie Shift
Lt. Austin Taylor
Sgt. Yojan Barrero
Cpl. Cassandra Calzone
Delta Shift
Lt. Thomas Kellett
Sgt. Anthony Waugh
Cpl. Thomas Powell
Role of the Victim’s Advocate:
To ensure that all victims and/or witnesses of criminal offenses are provided their constitutional rights as established by SC legislation S.616, known as the Victims Bill of Rights. Assist victims and witnesses as they are processed through the law enforcement system and maintain accurate records through the Victim/Witness Database within the Victim Services Unit. Be available for crime scene assistance, support to victims/witnesses and law enforcement. Read and assess all incident reports to identify victim/witnesses with possible needs. Make in-person, telephone, or written contact with such victims/witnesses. Assist victims/witnesses by completing forms, provide emotional and crisis intervention, accompany to court hearings at their request, notify court proceedings through disposition in summary court. Provide mandated information and reports to agencies. Provide victims/witnesses with information and contacts to local or state resources. Assist in getting the necessary support from other agencies through referrals. Maintain an open line of communication between the police department and other agencies.
The victim’s advocate for the City of Simpsonville is Kristen Koepke.
The Simpsonville Police Department Victim Services unit provides 24-hour assistance to victims of crime.
