Reggie Burgess
Reggie Burgess | |
|---|---|
| 4th mayor of North Charleston | |
| Assumed office January 2, 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Website | https://www.northcharleston.org/government/office_of_the_mayor/index.php |
Reginald L. 'Reggie' Burgess is an American law enforcement official and politician, serving as the 4th mayor of the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. Burgess is the first African-American mayor in the City's history.
Early life, education and career
Burgess and a younger brother were raised by a single mother in North Charleston.[1]
Burgess served as a police officer for 24 years, becoming chief in 2018,[2] [3] the first African-American police chief in the city's history.[4]
In 2019, Governor Henry McMaster nominated Burgess to Director of Public Safety, which would have to be confirmed by the legislature.[5] Burgess accepted and later declined the nomination.[6]
He announced his retirement in 2023.[7]
Walter Scott killing
See also: Killing of Walter Scott
On April 4, 2015, Walter Scott was shot and killed by Michael Thomas Slager, a North Charleston Police Department Officer. At the time, Burgess was North Charleston assistant chief of police.[8] Burgess issued a public apology for the killing.[9] [10]
As North Charleston's police chief, Burgess worked to improve police accountability and community relations after the Scott killing.[11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
Political career
2023 mayoral election
On March 24, 2023, Burgess announced his run for mayor[16], after the incumbent mayor declined to run for re-election.[17]
Other candidates who filed:[18]
- Stephanie Ganaway-Pasley
- Rhonda Jameson Jerome
- Curtis A Merriweather Jr
- Todd Olds
- Teddie E Pryor Sr
- John Singletary
- Samuel Whatley I
- Jesse Williams
Endorsers for Burgess included:
- Feidin Santana, the man whose photos of the killing led to Slager's conviction,[19] [20]
- Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce PAC[21]
- Post and Courier newspaper[22]
Burgess won with 56% of the vote, becoming the first new mayor in close to 30 years.[23]
Council controversies
On February 27, 2025, Burgess pledged transparency in a statement[24] and an address to the public after three members of North Charleston City Council were charged with federal corruption[25] with one suspended from office by Governor Henry McMaster.[26]
External links
References
- ^ Hansen, Victoria (March 12, 2024). "North Charleston's first African American mayor leans on lessons in faith and sacrifice". South Carolina Public Radio. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Erickson, Joseph (March 23, 2023). "North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess announces retirement". WCIV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Knapp, Andrew (January 9, 2018). "Reggie Burgess tapped as North Charleston's next police chief, will be sworn in Thursday". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "North Charleston, SC, Appoints 1st Black Police Chief Almost 3 Years After Murder of Walter Scott – The Root". www.theroot.com. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Jacobs, Harve; Coyle, Carter; Sharpe, Bill (November 28, 2019). "Governor selects N. Charleston police chief for top state position". WCSC-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Staff, Live 5 Web (January 31, 2020). "N. Charleston police chief Reggie Burgess withdraws nomination for top state position". WCSC-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Renaud, Tim (March 23, 2023). "North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess to retire". WCBD-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Lennon, Lauren (April 4, 2024). "Reflecting on Walter Scott's murder, 9 years later". WCIV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "South Carolina police official apologizes for fatal shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. March 24, 2016. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Boughton, Melissa (March 22, 2016). "Ass't police chief apologizes for Scott shooting at forum". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Coe, Kenna (April 4, 2025). "Walter Scott's death forced NCPD to evolve. His brothers' forgiveness played a role". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "After Police Killing of Walter Scott, a Department Tries to Rebound". New York Times. May 17, 2023. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Frosch, Dan; Ansari, Talal (July 3, 2020). "In Diverse North Charleston, Where Most Police are White, a Black Chief Tries to Bridge the Divide". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Blakeney, Barney (January 15, 2022). "North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess launches campaign to reduce city's high homicide rate". LowCountry Panorama. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "Request for release of the Department of Justice's collaborative reform assessment of the North Charleston Police Department" (PDF). NAACP Legal Defense Fund. April 7, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Erickson, Joseph (March 24, 2023). "N. Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess announces run for mayor". WCIV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Erickson, Joseph (March 10, 2023). "North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey: 'I will not be seeking re-election'". WCIV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "11/7/2023 City of North Charleston Gen Election Candidate listing". SC Votes. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Coe, Kenna (September 8, 2023). "Man who recorded police shooting of motorist Walter Scott endorses Reggie Burgess for mayor". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Sinner, Holy City (September 8, 2023). "Feidin Santana Endorses Reggie Burgess for Mayor". Holy City Sinner. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Kayanja, Ian (October 13, 2023). "Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce endorses Reggie Burgess for N. Charleston mayor". WCIV. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ STAFF, THE EDITORIAL (October 28, 2023). "Editorial: Burgess for North Charleston mayor". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Baldwin, Skyler (November 8, 2023). "Burgess runs away with North Charleston mayor's race". Charleston City Paper. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Phillips, Patrick; Johnson, Emily; Higdon, Michal; Kollar, Justin (February 26, 2025). "'Profound betrayal': 8 charged in North Charleston corruption investigation". WCSC-TV. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ Coe, Kenna (February 28, 2025). "North Charleston mayor pledges 'commitment to transparency' 1 day after federal corruption charges". Post and Courier. Retrieved December 9, 2025.
- ^ "Executive Order" (PDF). Office of the Governor Henry McMaster. February 26, 2025. Retrieved December 9, 2025.