The City of Cayce has hired Richland County Deputy Chief Chris Cowan, a 29-year law enforcement veteran, as the next Chief of Police for the City of Cayce.

In July, current Director of the Cayce Department of Public Safety, Byron Snellgrove, announced his retirement after 38 years in South Carolina Law Enforcement.

Cowan will work alongside Director Snellgrove until his departure in December. The City of Cayce has also announced that the Department, which has housed police, fire and K9 operations for the last 41 years, is in the process of establishing a separate Cayce Police Department and the Cayce Fire Department.

Cowan is known for his extensive experience leading special operations, homeland security, crime suppression, professional development, community policing, media relations and business and community crime prevention units. Currently a Deputy Chief for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, a 960-person Department, he works with local, state and federal partners in South Carolina in developing law enforcement, professional development and community based initiatives.

Cayce City Manager, Tracy Hegler, felt that “Cowan’s impeccable professional standards and qualifications made him stand out among the many that applied for the Chief of Police position.

“We are thrilled to announce the hiring of a decorated leader from what was recently named the nation’s top department ...”