State officials vote to withdraw Clio police chief’s law-enforcement certification

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW) — The South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy panel voted on Wednesday to withdraw the law-enforcement certification of Clio Police Chief Jamal Douglas amid an investigation initiated in January, officials said.

The vote is not a final decision and, instead, only begins the process for a hearing, an academy spokesperson said.

“Mr. Douglas may request a hearing and his case will then be heard,” the spokesperson said. “The hearing committee will then forward a recommendation to the Training Council and then they will vote.”

The investigation stems from a complaint that Douglas allowed uncertificated members of his department to work alone. He also allegedly falsified paperwork by not completing a background check and did not properly complete paperwork for officers’ firearm qualifications.

Clio Mayor Adam Pate said in January that the department was operating with three officers. Douglas was the only certified officer; the others were scheduled to go to the academy to take their certification classes.

“We have no violation to date and we believe that we have been operating by the book,” Pate said in January. “We will comply with anything received from the Criminal Justice Academy once the investigation has been completed.”

Douglas has been with the department since June 2023. He also has worked at the Marlboro County Sheriff’s Office, the McColl Police Department and at the Marlboro County Detention Center, according to academy records provided to News13.

* * *

Dennis Bright is a Digital Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on, Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW.