CAYCE, S.C. — The City of Cayce announced Wednesday that after nearly three years of leading the department, Police Chief Chris Cowan will be stepping down later this month to join the staff at the University of South Carolina’s Joseph F. Rice School of Law.
Cowan said he's looking forward to serving law enforcement professionals in a new way.
"The university received a grant to create an excellence in policing and public safety program. (To include) professional development and leadership development. So, I will be part of a team that they’re building to create programs that will enhance the profession," Cowan said.
Chief Cowan described his deep ties to law enforcement across the Midlands.
"You know, I was with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department for 29 years. I had the honor and privilege to work for Sheriff Leon Lott and work with some of the greatest professionals in policing in the country in my opinion. It’s been a great honor to be the Police Chief. It’s been a great honor to serve the citizens. Cayce’s a great place to live, work, and play," Cowan explained.
Under Cowan, Cayce transitioned its public safety department to an individual police department and invested in new technology and crime-fighting tools.
Chief Cowan didn't hesitate to answer when asked what he's most proud of.
"I’m proud of the way this department overcame the murder of [Cayce Police Corporal] Drew Barr," Cowan said. "You know, we’ve got a great relationship with our chamber of commerce, and they developed the 'Raising the Barr Award,' which is really the epitome of who Drew was. Drew’s legacy will live on forever, and his legacy was just that, raising the bar."
"Drew was a firefighter, he was an EMT, he was a police officer," Cowan added. "Drew was shot in the line of duty in 2017. He fully recovered. He returned to work. He committed his life, and then in 2022 gave his life in service to the community."
Cowan said the hardest part about not putting on the badge daily would be the people he's leaving behind.
"The hardest part will be not working with the great people here. We’ve just got some really awesome, passionate people about policing, and passionate people about the community. They’ve just done an outstanding job of building proactive police programs. (I'm) just super proud of the team. But again, I will still be working with law enforcement across the state. It stills gives me the opportunity to do that, to continue to help and to serve. I’ll just be serving in a different capacity," Cowan declared.
Former Cayce director of public safety and current mayor pro tem, Tim James, released a statement praising Cowan’s goals for the department.
“Chief Cowan set various initiatives that were both personal and professional, with the goal of setting a benchmark for detecting, investigating, and preventing crime," James said. "This goal has been well achieved, and the decrease in crime rates prove it."
As for Chief Cowan’s successor, Cayce said that City Manager Tracy Hegler will announce an interim chief of police shortly as the city begins its search for Cowan’s replacement.
Chief Cowan joined the Cayce Police Department in September of 2021. His last day on the job will be July 17.