South Carolina police officer dies in line of duty, officials say. Here’s what we know

According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, a police officer was killed in the line of duty on Wednesday.

South Carolina State Police trooper Mark Reynolds, 43, of Florence, suffered a medical emergency during training and died Wednesday evening, Department of Public Safety officials said in a news release.

Reynolds’ cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Information about the type of training Reynolds was attending when he suffered his medical emergency was not available.

“The death of Officer First Class Reynolds is a tremendous loss, not only to the State Transportation Police, but to the entire Department of Public Safety,” SCDPS Director Robert Woods said in a statement. “Tonight, we all hug our families and pray for Mark’s wife, children, friends and loved ones who are devastated by this sudden loss.”

After more than a decade of service as a firefighter and a career as a commercial truck driver, Reynolds joined the state Transportation Police in 2022, according to the release. He was assigned to Region 5, which includes Florence, Williamsburg and Georgetown counties, officials said.

Reynolds was the first transit police officer to be killed in the line of duty since the department was created in 1993, the release said.

“Today is a very sad day for the State Transport Police. Anyone who knew Mark personally knows he was well-liked, respected and incredibly reliable,” STP Col. Dwayne Wilson said in a statement. “He was dedicated to his job and lived a life of service to the state, throughout his years as a firefighter and most recently as one of our officers. He will be greatly missed.”

The Department of Public Safety said it did not have information on a memorial service for Reynolds, but that information would be released to the public as plans are made.