COLOMBIA – The acting director of the South Carolina public security agency took a step closer on February 24 to becoming its permanent leader, while senators applauded its progress last year to boost soldiers’ morale.
A Senate panel voted unanimously to advance the appointment of Robert Woods IV to keep him in charge of the state’s troubled Department of Public Security.
“What I’ve heard since you were acting is that morale is going up,” said Sen. Brian Adams, R-Goose Creek, a retired police officer.
“I also heard that morale is rising, which is fantastic,” said panel chairwoman Senator Sandy Senn, R-Charleston.
Woods, a 54-year-old Citadel graduate, told senators he never aspired for office. But when Governor Henry McMaster asked him to temporarily take office in February 2020, he “took this as an opportunity to do good things” for the agency he values.
His 30 years of experience at the agency, starting on the basis of patrolling the Charleston area roads, make him especially suited to the task of increasing hierarchy and raising morale, he said.
The only other law enforcement agency that Woods worked for is the Charleston Police Department, where he patrolled the streets for two years before returning to the Highway Patrol in 1993.
“I know the organization’s operations, culture and people. There’s really not much about the department that I don’t know in terms of how it operates, ”said Woods, noting that he’s been with the agency since its inception.
The work involves managing more than 1,200 employees across the state in various divisions, the largest being the Highway Police, where complaints, including unequal discipline and unfair promotions, have increased in the past decade.
“I experienced it. I understand. I understand where these guys are coming from. It is a situation in which I can identify with those who feel they are in a low-power situation,” he said. “What I want to do is provide them with an open door to meaningful dialogue to change this organization not just for employees, but for people in this state.”
Woods said he is working to increase the number of soldiers from around 800 to at least 1,000. His efforts include seeking several million lawmakers in the state budget to increase starting salaries so that soldiers can start with $ 40,000.
“Just to get their attention, we’re after the eight ball,” he said of announcing first-year jobs for $ 39,000.
But this is a legislative decision, he said, and since the money alone will not fix morale or prevent soldiers from leaving, “I need to control what I can control”.
He said he assured senators that he is committed to increasing diversity in the ranks. Almost 20 percent of soldiers are minorities and very few are women. Efforts include recruiting from historically black colleges, he said.
It is important to “make sure we look like the community we serve, and in doing so, it builds trust,” he said, noting that his master’s at Columbia College is in conflict resolution.
“I commend you for these efforts,” said Sen. Marlon Kimpson, D-Charleston. “I am interested in working with you to track that number.”
Woods will officially replace Leroy Smith, who announced in the fall of 2019 that he would not seek a third term in office after years of lawmakers calling for his removal.
McMaster’s last choice for Smith’s replacement, North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess, removed his name from the dispute in late January 2020 after his first confirmation hearing unexpectedly changed to unpaid tax issues he had paid out.
McMaster’s decision to keep Woods in office requires Senate approval. Woods is expected to get approval easily, following a vote by the Senate Judiciary Committee next week.
She has the support of state law enforcement groups, the South Carolina Troopers Association, which Woods has already led as president, as well as senior state official, the head of the State Law Enforcement Division, Mark Keel.
follow Seanna Adcox on Twitter at @seannaadcox_pc.