Public Safety
The BHDD Office of Mental Health Public Safety Division is dedicated to promoting safety, security and support across the BHDD's facilities and programs throughout South Carolina.
Founded in 1963 as a fully operational, Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)-accredited police department with statewide jurisdiction, the BHDD's Public Safety provides professional law enforcement and security services for inpatient and long-term care facilities. Public Safety also plays an important role in investigations, disaster response, patient and resident transport, employee assistance and support for BHDD's mental health centers.
Commendations and Complaints
We welcome feedback from the public. Commendations and complaints may be submitted using the following forms.
Officer/Employee Commendation Form
Submission options
- By mail:
BHDD Office of Mental Health, Division of Public Safety
7901 Farrow Road, Building #17
Columbia, SC 29203 - By email:
PublicSafety@omh.bhdd.sc.gov - By fax:
803-935-5492 - By phone (anonymous line):
803-935-5485
All submissions are reviewed and investigated, including anonymous submissions.
CALEA Public Comments
The South Carolina Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Office of Mental Health Division of Public Safety undergoes re-accreditation assessments every four years by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®).
The CALEA accreditation program requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations and support services. Accredited law enforcement agencies are assessed every four years to ensure they continue to meet these professional standards.
As part of the assessment process, agency employees and the public are invited to offer comments via an online feedback portal.