PROTECTIVE SERVICES

If you have a desire to help people and serve the public, there are few careers as rewarding as being a firefighter or law enforcement officer. Protective Services at Swofford consists of two programs that may be taken separately, or students may choose to enroll in each. In both the Fire and Law Enforcement programs, students will enjoy many hands-on and off-campus activities, while learning the basic skills necessary for each career area. Physical training is an important component of both programs.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE:

  • Police Officer

  • Emergency Medical Technician

  • Firefighter

  • Fire Chief

  • Public Safety Officer

  • Crime Scene Investigator

 

CURRICULUM

FIREFIGHTER I — STUDENTS MUST TAKE FIREFIGHTER I AND FIREFIGHTER II IN CONSECUTIVE SEMESTERS (FALL/SPRING)

(THIS DOES NOT APPLY TO LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES.)

Grades: 10*-12 / Approximate Fees: $57 (includes fees for uniforms, which are required)
Prerequisite: *Student must be 16 years of age — or turn 16 before October 1 of the current school year — before beginning this program.  (This does not apply to Law Enforcement Services.)

This course provides the student with the fundamentals of firefighting and is designed to combine with Firefighter II to provide the student the opportunity to test for and earn Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications through International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC).  The course covers fire ground skills including fire behavior, fire extinguishers, personal protective equipment, SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus), ladders, fire hoses, fire streams, search and rescue, and interior fire attack.

FireFIGHTER II  

Grades: 10-12 / Approximate Fees: $42 (for additional uniform requirements)
Prerequisite: Completion of Firefighter I with a minimum grade of 80 or Director approval

This course provides the student with the opportunity to test for and earn Firefighter I and Firefighter II certifications as recognized by IFSAC and the state of South Carolina.  The course covers building construction, ropes and knots, forcible entry, ventilation, water supply, salvage, overhaul, communications, fire prevention, public fire education, and community risk reduction.


Law Enforcement Services I

Grades: 10-12 / Approximate Fees: $57 (includes fees for uniforms, which are required)
Prerequisite: None. However, strong writing and communication skills are necessary. Law enforcement personnel must write reports that are often admitted as evidence. Students will write frequently in Law Enforcement Services.
This course is designed for students interested in law enforcement as a career and focuses on current and standard police procedures. The students will study the history of the criminal justice system, professional ethics in law enforcement, the duties and responsibilities of law enforcement, and incident report writing.

Law Enforcement Services II

Grades: 10-12 / Approximate Fees: $57 (for additional uniform requirements)
Prerequisite: Completion of Law Enforcement Services 1 with minimum grade of 80 or Director approval
This course will allow the students to prepare for a future career in the field of law enforcement.  The students will participate in search and arrest techniques, traffic stop training, investigative procedures, courtroom procedures, and evidence collection and preservation.