Sheriff

With thirty-seven years of law enforcement experience, Carl Ritchie retired as the Chief of Police for the Mount Pleasant Police Department in May 2021. His career began in the United States Air Force, where he served in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations and Security Forces. He holds a Master of Criminal Justice from the Command College of South Carolina at Anderson University and a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice Administration from Strayer University. He is also a graduate of the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police Executive Strategic Management, the University of South Carolina Institute for Departmental Management and Leadership, and Bowmac Educational Services’ Advanced Leadership and Strategic Planning program. Additionally, he is a Riley Fellow through Furman University's Riley Institute Diversity Leaders Initiative.

During his tenure as Chief, the Mount Pleasant Police Department achieved two consecutive Gold Standard Reaccreditations. He successfully led the department through numerous critical incidents, including the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, hurricanes, and critical infrastructure failures. His leadership extended beyond policing, as he served on the boards of the South Carolina Municipal Insurance and Risk Financing Fund and its Law Enforcement Advisory Committee.

Following his retirement, he was elected to the Mount Pleasant Town Council in November 2021, where he served on several key committees, including the Police, Judicial and Legal Committee, the Transportation Committee, and the Human Resources Committee. He also chaired the Fire Committee and was a board member of the Charleston Area Transportation Study. In November 2024, he was elected Charleston County Sheriff, continuing his lifelong commitment to public service. A lifelong resident of Charleston County, he remains dedicated to the safety and well-being of the community he has served throughout his career.

See Sheriff's Office for more information about this elected office.

Related Information

Municipalities

City of Charleston
City of Folly Beach
City of North Charleston
City of Isle of Palms
Town of Awendaw
Town of Hollywood
Town of James Island
Town of Kiawah Island
Town of Lincolnville
Town of McClellanville
Town of Meggett
Town of Mount Pleasant
Town of Ravenel
Town of Rockville
Town of Seabrook Island
Town of Sullivan's Island

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