© 2004, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

New SC director of public safety assumes post
Winner is from St. Andrews Elementary

MAY 4, 2004 - Jim Schweitzer, the new South Carolina Director of Public Safety spoke to Rotarians this week after having only been in the position one day. We were, of course, honored to be one of his first audiences in this post.

Schweitzer, who recently retired from the F.B.I. after 33 years of employment, was proposed for the Public Safety job by Governor Sanford and confirmed by the Senate. His department oversees the highway patrol people, among others.

Schweitzer spent a portion of the meeting discussing his background with the F.B.I. He emphasized that as, Americans, we often take for granted the rule of law and order that exists in this country. "It is something you wake up and expect every day." Only when we look at war-torn nations like Iraq, or are reeling from terrorism events at home, do we really give the rule of law its due appreciation and thought.

Schweitzer noted the "tremendous scrutiny" that the F.B.I. has been under post-9/11. He stressed that the F.B.I. is ever-changing as the events of our time dictate the focuses of the agency. Whereas Vietnam protests, organized crime, and crack-induced crime were major topics of prior years, current efforts are largely centered on anti-terrorism efforts. He acknowledged that the F.B.I. has been slow with respect to computer automation but stated that in the last three years, automation has been getting the level of attention, expertise and skills that is needed to help fight the war on terror.

With respect to public safety, Schweitzer said that 966 people died on state roads last year. We are on pace to break that record this year. He urged all of us to "be responsible and model good behavior, especially to young people." This includes wearing seat belts, following the speed limit, abstaining from drinking and driving, and paying better attention to the road while driving.

In other business…

Johnny Stuhr gave the invocation and led us in the Pledge of Allegiance, and Matt Blackwood welcomed our guests and visiting Rotarians. David Cohen offered Health and Happiness. Ted Creech made an announcement about nominations for Rotarian of the Year, and Anita Zucker gave us a Rotary Moment. Anita Zucker also congratulated new Paul Harris Fellows Frank Grimball and Steve Bowen and Multiple Paul Harris Fellow Jim Parker. Finally, Rob Dewey introduced our guest speaker, Jim Schweitzer.

-- Amy Jenkins