lexchront@yahoo.com

Andrew “Bear” Richbourg has been appointed as Chief of Police of the Springdale Police Department.

Town Administrator Ashley Watkins appointed him Thursday.

“It says a lot about our Town when we are able to promote such a high ranking employee within a department,” said Springdale Mayor Michael Bishop.

“I fully support our Town Administrator and her decision and look forward to seeing what Chief Richbourg has planned for the Spring-dale Police Department.”

Richbourg will assume leadership of the department May 24, when current Chief of Police Kevin Cornett moves to the Isle of Palms Police Department.

Richbourg has been with the Springdale Police Department since April 2017 where he served as Lieutenant over Investigations. He previously worked for the City of Columbia as a Major Crimes Investigator for several years. Richbourg has received several awards throughout his career including the Police Shield and Officer of the Year award from the City of Columbia.

Since his career with the Town of Springdale, he has completed the FBI Child Abduction Training, FBI Digital Imaging & Video Recovery Team Training, and also the FBI Carolina Command College.

Most recently, Chief Richbourg obtained his Master of Criminal Justice Degree from Columbia College.

Richbourg is a graduate of Airport High School and lives in Lexington County with his wife Julie and their 3 children.