Police want regular funding for South Carolina training

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Law enforcement officers in South Carolina are urging a regular source of funding for training new officers.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported much of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy funding comes from traffic fines and fees. The newspaper reported that revenue has dropped in recent years, in part, because of a shift in focus for many officers.

Police chiefs and sheriffs say the academy needs regular budget funding in order to improve training.

The state collected more than $9 million from traffic tickets and fines in 2008. That was down to just over $6 million last year. Money from the fines and fees goes to more than a dozen agencies, although the academy gets most of the money.

Gov. Henry McMaster supports regular funding for the academy.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com