Charleston features a strong mayor-council system, with the mayor serving as the municipality’s top administrator and executive officer. The mayor, like the other council members, presides over municipal council meetings and has a vote. John Tecklenburg has been the mayor since 2016. The council is made up of 12 members who are chosen from single-member districts.

Fire department

Charleston Fire Department Engines 2 and 3 have their own station houses.

Over 300 full-time firefighters work for the City of Charleston Fire Department. These firemen work out of 21 different companies spread across the city, including 16 engine companies, two tower companies, two ladder companies, a heavy rescue company, a HAZ-MAT unit, and other special units. The departments of the department include Training, Fire Marshall, Operations, and Administration. The department operates on a 24/48 basis and has an ISO Class 1 grade. Russell (Rusty) Thomas was the Fire Chief until June 2008, when he was succeeded by Chief Thomas Carr. Chief Daniel Curia currently leads the department.

Police department

The City of Charleston Police Department is South Carolina’s largest, with 458 sworn officers, 117 civilians, and 27 reserve police officers. Their tactics for combating drug usage and gang violence in the city are utilized as templates for other cities to follow. [Citation required] The current Chief of Police is Luther Reynolds. He is a fan of Greg Mullen and Reuben Greenberg. Chief Reynolds is praised for sustaining effective community engagement projects such as The Illumination Project and cultivating a mutual respect culture. The agency has effectively overcome obstacles such as the Coronavirus and downtown unrest under Chief Reynolds’ leadership. Furthermore, in a competitive market, the agency continues to recruit police candidates.

EMS and medical centers

Charleston County Emergency Medical Services (CCEMS) and Berkeley County Emergency Medical Services (BCEMS) offer emergency medical services (EMS) for the city (BCEMS). Because the city lies in both Charleston and Berkeley counties, it is served by both EMS and 911 services.

Charleston is the principal medical hub for the state’s eastern region. The downtown region is home to numerous large hospitals, including the Medical University of South Carolina Medical Center (MUSC), the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, and Roper Hospital. MUSC is the state’s first medical school, the largest medical institution in the state, and the sixth-oldest continuously functioning medical school in the United States.

The downtown medical center is seeing fast growth in the biotechnology and medical research businesses, as well as significant expansions of all major hospitals. Furthermore, significant developments are planned or underway at another large hospital in West Ashley: Bon Secours-St Francis Xavier Hospital. The Trident Regional Medical Center in North Charleston and the East Cooper Regional Medical Center in Mount Pleasant both serve the needs of Charleston residents.

Coast Guard Station Charleston

Coast Guard Station Charleston is responsible for search and rescue operations, maritime law enforcement, and Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS) missions. Station Charleston personnel are highly trained professionals that can complete a variety of jobs. They include federal law enforcement officers, boat crewmen, and coxswains. The Coast Guard announced plans to build a 2,800-acre (11 km2) “superbase” on the former Charleston Naval Shipyard complex in 2020 to centralize all of its Charleston-area facilities and serve as the homeport for five Security cutters and more offshore cutters.

Coast Guard Sector Charleston (District 7)

• Coast Guard Station Charleston
• Coast Guard Reserves, Charleston
• Coast Guard Helicopter Air Facility, Johns Island, Charleston
• USCGC Anvil, 75-foot inland construction tender, Charleston
• USCGC Yellowfin, Marine Protector-class coastal patrol boat, Charleston
• USCGC Willow, (WLB-202), Charleston
• Joint Base Charleston (Navy & Air Force)
• Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District Headquarters