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The Columbia Police Department (CPD), was established as a police deparment in 1856, and holds the primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigation within the city of Columbia, South Carolina. It is the mission of the Columbia Police Department (CPD), to professionally protect and serve with virtue to reducing crime, thus, enhancing the quaility of life in the city of Columbia, South Carolina.

Pre-history (1786-1856)
The City of Columbia, South Carolina was founded on March 29, 1786 as the capital of the State of South Carolina. The first jail was completed in 1802 near the intersection of Richardson (Main) and Washington Streets and in 1805 the city was chartered as a town with powers vested in one intendent (Mayor) and six wardens who levied taxes, collected fines for offenses, sentenced offenders to jail and required male inhabitants to clear the city streets.

In the beginning, the town depended upon the state patrol law, and the first law enforcement officer employed by Columbia, South Carolina was a Marshal, who, by an 1808 ordinance, was required to go through the town every Sunday - "once in the forenoon and once in the afternoon, to suppress any riotous or disorderly conduct" - and also served as clerk of the town market.

On January 1, 1824, the town guard was authorized, headed by a captain, and elected by the town board. The guard was financed by a 5-cent tax on real estate while citizens were exempted for sticks, and patrolled the city of 3,500 inhabitants in pairs. The guardhouse was on Main Street, around the corner from the jail on Washington Street. This form of policing lasted until 1856 at which time then Marshal John Burdell is elected Chief of Police.

Departmental organization
The Columbia Police Department has approximately 400 officers and 97 civilian personnel, with patrol services covering an area of 134.9 sq mi (349.5 km) and a population of 131,686 (2012). The CPD is divided into five regions spread across the city, with each region supervised by a Captain.

Leadership
The Columbia Police Chief is Ruben Santiago, who was Deputy Chief of Operations prior to Chief Randall G. Scott resigning. Prior to this appointment, Chief Santiago served as a Commander for the Richland County Sheriffs Department. His appointment to the Columbia Police Department has brought in a renewed era of hope and policing ideas for the city of Columbia.

List of Columbia Police Chiefs

 * John Burdell: 1856 – February 17, 1865
 * Chief Daniels (possibly Nathan) c. March 1865 - April 16, 1866
 * Samuel S. Green: April 17, 1866 - April 16, 1867
 * Lewis Jones Radcliffe: May 07, 1867 - May 19, 1870
 * Charles McGuckin: May 20, 1870- December 20, 1870
 * John A. Jackson: January 03, 1871 - April 30, 1874
 * Marion Frank Nixon: May 01, 1874 - April 1876
 * Lewis Jones Radcliffe: April 1876 - April 14, 1884
 * Eldred Simkins Fickling: April 15, 1884 - April 16, 1888
 * John M. Graham: April 17, 1888 – c. April 1890
 * Wellington W. Higbe: c. April 1890 - April 19, 1892
 * Lewis Jones Radcliffe: April 20, 1892 – July 10, 1894
 * Owen Daly: July 24, 1894 – September 30, 1907
 * William Clinton Cathcart: October 01, 1907 - September 30, 1914
 * John W. Richardson: October 01, 1914 – July 09, 1921
 * Frederick S. Strickland: July 10, 1921 – April 13, 1929
 * John Rober Swearingen: April 16, 1929 – July 01, 1931
 * William H. Rawlinson: July 25, 1931 – June 15, 1940
 * Lyle Johnston Campbell: June 15, 1940 – January 01, 1971
 * William Roy Cauthen: January 01, 1971 – November 13, 1978
 * Arthur Garland Hess: November 13, 1978 – January 03, 1982
 * Robert Allen Wilbur: January 27, 1982 – September 28, 1990
 * Charles Perry Austin, Sr: October 01, 1990 – June 17, 2001
 * Charles R. Clark: June 18, 2001 – June 28, 2002 (Acting)
 * Charles Perry Austin, Sr: June 29, 2002 – May 21, 2003 (Assistant City Manager and Chief of Police)
 * James R. Swisher: May 22, 2003 - May 31, 2004 (Acting)
 * Harold Dean Crisp, Jr: June 01, 2004 – September 12, 2007
 * Harold Lee Reaves: September 13, 2007 - November 08, 2007 (Interim)
 * Norman L. Caldwell: November 08, 2007 - May 31, 2008 (Interim)
 * Tandy Paul Carter: June 01, 2008 - May 10, 2010
 * Carl E. Burke: May 10, 2010 - October 04, 2010 (Interim)
 * Randall G. Scott: October 04, 2010 - December 31, 2012
 * Ruben Santiago: January 01, 2013 - January 15, 2013 (Interim)
 * Randall G. Scott: January 16, 2013 - April 02, 2013
 * Ruben Santiago: April 03, 2013 - Present (Interim)

Regions
The following is a list of regions that the CPD serves: