Police FAQs

When there is an emergency, lives are in danger, serious injury, serious medical condition, crime in progress, fire, or any other situation needing immediate emergency attention.

If you wish to remain anonymous or keep information confidential just tell the operator.

We appreciate your interest in commending the actions of one of our Officers or employees. It is much appreciated. To do so you can:

1. Call (864) 967-9536 and ask to speak to the employee's supervisor and verbally communicate your praise.
2. You can write a letter to Chief Mike Hanshaw 405 E Curtis St. Simpsonville, SC 29681
3. You can e-mail the Chief of Police at mhanshaw@simpsonvillepd.com  include your name and address. Commendations received by the Chief of Police will result in advising the employee of your gratitude, and the commendation will be permanently recorded in the employee's personnel file. If the action is sufficiently praiseworthy, additional recognition may be given.
4. You can complete the online form under the Commendation/Complaint Tab.

Thank you for taking the time to thank an Officer!

In order to maintain awareness of sex offenders living in your neighborhood, the Greenville County Sherriff's Office has added a Sex Offender Registry to their website. The registry will allow you to enter any local address. It will then provide a list of all registered Greenville County sex offenders living within a one-mile radius within the boundaries of Greenville County. If you are looking for information about a particular sex offender, registered in Greenville County, the registry can help there as well.

You can also visit the S.L.E.D. Sex Offender Registry to search for a registered sex offender.

The Simpsonville Police keeps a record of all vehicle tows within the City limits that were involved in a traffic accident or traffic stop, abandoned on public property or illegally parked on public property in the dispatch center. Call 864-967-9536.

To contact a specific Police Officer call the SPD non-emergency line at 864-967-9536. Be prepared to give the operator the Officer's name or unit number, the case number (if applicable), your contact information and reason for the call.

The operator will take a message and forward it to the Officer if they are on duty at the time of the call. The Officer will return your call as soon as possible.

If they are not on duty, the operator may be able to advise you when they are scheduled to return to work and you will need to call back during that time. Operators will not contact Officers who are off duty. Most Officers work rotating 12-hour shifts (day shift or night shift), 2 days on, 3 days off, 3 days on, 2 days off and so forth, so it can be several days before they are back on duty.

Please be aware that due to patrol requirements, it is often impossible for an Officer to immediately return your call.

It is against Department policy for operators to release phone numbers for individual Officers.

The Greenville County Detention Center has a website with useful information including allowing you to check online to see if someone has been incarcerated. Go to Detention Center website.

When a Police Officer signals for you to pull over:

• Pull over as far to the right as safely possible. This allows the officer to walk safely to your car.
• Turn off the ignition.
• If the traffic stop occurs at night, turn on the interior lights of your car so the officer can see.
• Place your hands on the steering wheel until the officer can make a safety evaluation as he/she approaches your car.
• Avoid making any sudden or reaching movements.
• Always follow the officer's instructions.
• Please stay in your vehicle unless directed by the officer to get out of your car.
• Do not assume that the officer knows that you are the perfect, law-abiding citizen. Law Enforcement can be dangerous work. Officers must be cautious at all times.
• If you are carrying a weapon advise the officer of the weapon and its location. Do Not attempt to retrieve the weapon for the officer.
• Being stopped at night, particularly along a dark stretch of road, can heighten the tension for a motorist and an officer. Officers do not object to drivers proceeding to the nearest well lit area. Simply acknowledge the officer by turning on your flashers and drive at a reduced speed.
• If asked to step out of the car, walk to the rear of your vehicle to the side away from the traffic, or as directed by the officer, using the car as a barrier between you and on-coming cars.
• The officer will ask you for three important pieces of information, your driver’s license, automobile registration, and proof of insurance. The officer will explain the reason for the traffic stop.
• Please do not attempt to argue with the officer. This may only increase the tension in an already stressful situation.
• Depending upon why the officer felt it was necessary to initiate a traffic stop you may, or may not, be given a citation, warning ticket, or verbal warning. If you receive a citation you will be advised of a court date, which allows you the opportunity to take your case before a judge. Certain traffic violations require that if charged you are taken into custody and must appear before a magistrate.

Once business with the officer is finished, you should merge, with caution, back into the flow of traffic.

In addition to the above, here are some other recommendations that we call “Best Practices for interacting with a police officer.”

The most dangerous thing a police officer does on a daily basis is to conduct a traffic stop.  It is dangerous because of the unknown factors.  With that said, here is a list of things you should do if you are pulled over by the police:

1. Do not make any sudden movements
2. Verbalize to the officer your intentions before you make any movements and get the OK
3. Do not exit the vehicle, unless directed to do so by the officer
4. Roll the driver’s side window all the way down
5. Turn down your radio
6. If at night, turn on the interior light in your vehicle
7. Put your hands in a position where they can be visible to the officers as he/she approaches you.  Make sure your hands are empty, if possible.
8. Have your Vehicle Registration & Proof of Insurance somewhere close by to retrieve at the command of the officer.  (preferred location is in a pouch on your sun visor, so it is not in an area that items such as a firearm may be stored)
9. Do not argue with the officer on the side of the road, that is not the time or place.  That is what court is for.

If you are a female traveling alone and you are being stopped during the evening hours in a rural and/or poorly lit area please do the following: 

1. Turn on your emergency hazards to acknowledge the officer
2. Slow your speed down and proceed to a well-lit area
3. Turn on the interior lights
4. Call 911 and tell the dispatcher you are a female traveling alone and you have an officer behind you attempting to pull you over.  Let them know you are not trying to flee, but you do not feel safe and want to pull over in a well-lit area.  Ask the dispatcher if this is one of their officers behind you (give your location and vehicle description). 

NOTE: This is not a state law, but merely a courtesy that some officers allow to make females feel more comfortable. Once the 911 dispatcher confirms that it is a law enforcement officer behind you, it is recommended to pull over.  

If you are lawfully carrying a concealed weapon (i.e. Current CWP holder that is armed) you must do the following when pulled over by the police:  

1. Give the CWP to the police officer along with your driver’s license
2. Two times when you must present a CWP if you are armed with a firearm: a.)When the person identifies themselves as a law enforcement officer. b.)When the officer request identification or a driver’s license.
3. Verbally make the officer aware of where your firearm is concealed without making any movements to reveal, brandish or touch the firearm.
4. Following directions after you told the officer you are armed is crucial for your safety as well as the safety of the officer.

Stay Safe While Stopped Printable Card

Warrants of arrest, which include both arrest and bench warrants, have no expiration date. They are cleared only when abated by death or when a defendant appears before a judge in the court that issued the warrant.

If you need your fingerprints taken for license, business or employment purposes, please come to the rear entrance of the Simpsonville Police Department, 405 E. Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681, M-F 7:00am thru 7:00pm.  Or call after hours to see if an officer can be available (864-967-9536) to take your fingerprints.  There is a $5.00 charge for all fingerprints (per person printed, per visit).