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

A police officer died in the line of duty Wednesday, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety .

South Carolina State Transport Police Officer Mark Reynolds, a 43-year-old Florence native, suffered a medical emergency during training and died Wednesday night, Department of Public Safety officials said in a news release.

Reynolds’ cause of death has not been made public. Information about the type of training Reynolds was participating in when he suffered the medical emergency was not available.

“The death of Officer First Class Reynolds is a profound loss, not only for the State Transport Police , but the entire Department of Public Safety,” SCDPS Director Robert Woods said in the release. “We are all hugging our families a little closer tonight and praying for Mark’s wife, children, friends and loved ones who are left reeling from this sudden loss.”

After serving as a firefighter for more than a decade and working as a professional truck driver, Reynolds joined the State Transport 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 State Transport Police officer to die in the line of duty since the division of the Department of Public Safety was created in 1993, according to the release.

“Today is a very sad day for the State Transport Police. For anyone who knew Mark personally, he was well liked, respected and extremely dependable,” STP Colonel Dwayne Wilson said in the release. “He was committed to his job and lived a life of service to the state, through his years as a firefighter and most recently as one of our officers. He will be greatly missed.”

The Department of Public Safety said information about a memorial service for Reynolds wasn’t available, but it would be shared with the public when plans are made.