JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA –
Joint Base Charleston leadership hosted a base tour for Hanahan city security officials Jan. 25. As a part of the tour, a new memorandum of understanding was ratified dictating jurisdictional and coordinated response between the base and the neighboring community.
“We're all part of the same community with the same goal of maintaining law, order and security in our community,” said Air Force Lt. Col. Robert Clouse, 628th Security Forces commander. “The better connected we are, the better we'll know how we can support each other.”
The relationship supplements both Joint Base Charleston and Hanahan by opening up communication opportunities not previously available to either department. With the relationship in place, incidents and operations can be responded to with a maximized sense of assurance.
“Laying the groundwork for this relationship is beneficial for training, security and future opportunities to use resources to make a difference,” said Dennis Turner, Hanahan Chief of Police, “The important thing is that we have a working relationship.”
The tour began with base leadership providing a Joint Base Charleston mission brief. The presentation gave Hanahan officials a better understanding of the base’s rapid global response capabilities.
“I believe it gave them a better understanding of the type of missions executed by JB Base Charleston,” said U.S. Navy Capt. Robert Hudson, 628th base deputy commander. “In the event of emergencies or large scale operations from the base, having this knowledge will enable them in their response efforts.”
The Hanahan city officials also toured the Naval Consolidated Brig and boarded security forces river patrol boats for a tour on the Cooper River.
“We take pride in having excellent relationships with all of our local law enforcement agencies,” said Clouse. “It was a pleasure spending the day with the fire and police chiefs.”