Divisions & Staff

·         1991-2001 As Major of Operations and Assistant Chief for the City of Sumter Police Department for ten years, command included:  Patrol, Traffic, Detectives, Organized Crime and Vice Control, COPS, DARE, School Resource Officers, Teen Court Justice, Administrations and Records, Training, and Internal Affairs.

·    1994 She was the first female from Sumter City/County Law Enforcement to attend and graduate from the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy (FBINA), Session 177.

·    1985-1991 As a Special Agent with the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) for six years, assigned to Criminal Investigations.  First female SLED SWAT Team member and the first female African-American field agent assigned to the Pee Dee region.  Additional responsibility of specialization in child abuse and sexual assault investigations.

·    1983-1985 First female African-American, Criminologist Instructor at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy.  Instructor in a diversity of law enforcement training.

·   1981-1983 First female Sumter County Deputy Sheriff and Juvenile Investigator.

·  1979-1981 First African-American employee for the Sumter County Magistrate’s office; assigned as traffic/warrant clerk.

-          Education -

Master of Criminal Justice (MCJ), University of South Carolina, 1999; recipient of the J.P. Strom Fellowship award, 1998 and 1999; Graduate of the FBI National Academy, Quantico, VA, 1994; Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies, 1990; Associate of Arts from USC, 1980.   Graduate of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, Basic II – 1982, ranking within the top ten of the class. Panel and Participation in the 2007 National Leadership Summit in January 2007. Certificates of attendance and participation in a multitude of law enforcement seminars, training, workshops, conference and panels conducted local, state, federal, and national. Jimmy Ryce Law Enforcement Training Center National Center of Missing and Exploited Children, Alexandria, VA 2005 – Missing and Exploited Children’s Executive Officer Seminar

-          Memberships -

Currently, Elected President on July 28, 2007, NAWLEE, National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives.  Currently, Honorary Commander for the 20^th Fighter Wing Security Forces Squadron at Shaw AFB, consecutively since 2001; Current appointment to the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Executive Board, January 2007; IACP Membership since 2001; FBI National Academy Associates (FBINAA) since 1994; SC Chapter of FBINA (SCFBINAA) since 1994; President, SC Police Chiefs Association (SCPCA); Appointed by Governor Sanford to South Carolina Training Council, 2007, 2006;  Palmetto State Law Enforcement Officer’s Association (PSLEOA); Sumter Chapter PSLEOA (SCPSLEOA); South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association (SCLEOA); Board of South Carolina Victims Assistance Network (SCVAN); Board of South Carolina Adult and Elder Abuse; Board of Third Judicial Circuit Child Advocacy Center; Sumter Crimestoppers Board; Board Sumter Homeland Security/COBRA Team, immediate past Chair 2002-2006; Manchester Cambridge Who’s Who, 2006-2007; Board of Sumter Greenhouse Runaway Shelter; South Carolina Girl Scout Council of the Congaree Area, Inc., Volunteer  since 2002.

-          Honors and Community Service –

Award Recipient - July 27, 2007, NAWLEE/Motorola Women Law Enforcement Executive of the Year Award; Reid Chapel’s Ebony First 2007; The University of South Carolina Sumter Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, April, 2007; Houston Women in Law Enforcement Annual Training Conference featured Luncheon Speaker “To Whom Much Is Given, Much is Expected”, TX, April, 2007; Featured: Pee Dee Magazine; NAWLEE “View From the Top” online; media spotlights; Providence Hospital Red Dress Ambassador Campaign and Air Force ROTC Graduation and USAF Air Force Airmen Leadership School  guest speaker; 2006-07 President of South Carolina Police Chiefs Association; 2006 Vice President of South Carolina Police Chiefs Association (SCPCA); South Carolina Law Enforcement Training Advisory Council (SCLETAC) appointment by Governor Mark Sanford; Guest Speaker at National Empowerment of Women in Law Enforcement 2006, 4^th Annual Training Conference, El Paso, TX; 2006  Active Participant with Promoting Legislation on Daniel’s Law for amendment to add public safety and churches as Safe Havens for Abandoned Children; Featured in Pee Dee Magazine “Sumter Police Chief Patty Patterson – Paving the Way, May/June 2003; 2002, one of seven recipients inducted into the South Carolina Black Hall of Fame; 2002, Honoree for the SC Girl Scout Congaree Image Campaign “Believe in a Girl”; February, Named Honoree by IMARA Woman SC Magazine, for July/August 2001 cover and feature presentation “Breaking the Glass Ceiling”; 1998, instrumental in establishing the Teen Court Justice program for the City of Sumter Police Department; 1998, YWCA TWIN Honoree; November, 1996, recipient of the 1995 Strom Thurmond Award for Excellence in Law Enforcement, Police Officer of the Year, presented by United States Senator Strom Thurmond; 1995, Ambassador for the Rotary International Group Exchange Team to Switzerland; March 1994, chosen by South Carolina Commission on Woman as the first time recipient of the Non-Traditional Career Award presented by former Governor Carroll Campbell; While a Special Agent with SLED, served as a SC Cadet Law Academy Counselor for five years.  Through the years, served as Chair of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (Sumter); President and Vice-President of the Sumter County Alliance for Law Enforcement; President of the Sumter Chapter of the Palmetto State Law Enforcement Association: South Carolina Victim Assistance Network Member; Citizens Police Advisory Council Sumter; and the Columbia Urban League.  Home church is Shaw Heights Baptist Church of Sumter, attendance at Historic Liberty Hill AME Church of Summerton and many other church affiliations.  In addition Patty Jaye has been invited to perform the National Anthem and other selections at numerous conferences and meetings including the 2006 NAWLEE Conference, Shaw Air Force Base Ceremonies, Sumter Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, CALEA Ceremonies, National Lieutenant Governors’ Conference (SC) and National Attorney Generals’ Conference (SC) along with SC Police Memorial and SC Victims’ Rights Ceremonies. Guest speaker or soloist at multitude community events, churches, conferences, women’s day, mother/daughter brunches, prayer breakfast and luncheons, family reunions, banquets, graduations, assemblies, convocation and commencements, along with other special occasions

******************************************* 

Patty Jaye Garrett Patterson loves a challenge and has accomplished many milestones.  She attributes this to being richly blessed by God, her parent’s guidance and to the scripture that profoundly states:  “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).”  Her philosophy is: “With the gifts God has bestowed me, I believe in combating the obstacles and surviving with perseverance--without compromising one’s morals.  It is imperative that we dare to dream and dare to explore our talents.  I believe and know that we must give each task our utmost, our best, and our all.  If we do these things they will enable us to soar like eagles as we dare to achieve our dreams.  Godspeed…”    ***updated 6/19/07