[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 3 (Friday, January 6, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S575]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    COMMENDING CHIEF ROBERT STEWART

  Mr. THURMOND. Mr. President, South Carolina is probably the most 
idyllic place anyone might consider living. The pace of life there is 
relaxed, the people are friendly, and the weather is temperate. 
Unfortunately, even a State as peaceful as mine is not free from the 
evils and dangers of crime.
  Leading the fight against illegal activity in the Palmetto State is 
an organization created by me when I served as Governor of South 
Carolina, the State Law Enforcement Division, commonly referred to as 
``SLED.'' At the helm of SLED is a man whom I have had the pleasure of 
knowing for many years, Chief Robert M. Stewart, and whom I am pleased 
to call a friend. The chief has literally dedicated his life to police 
work and has gained national recognition as an aggressive officer and a 
true professional.
  Chief Stewart, a native of Cheraw, began his career as a teenager 
when he signed on as a cadet with his hometown police department and 
worked his way up the leadership ladder, earning the position of 
director of public safety before he had even turned 30. In 1975, he 
stepped down as director and joined SLED as a special agent. In the 
following 20 years, his career advanced rapidly while he worked on 
cases ranging from those that were routine and mundane to ones that 
were international in scope. A veteran of the SWAT team, Robert 
specialized in white collar and public corruption cases, and worked 
closely with Federal agencies investigating such crimes in South 
Carolina. In 1988, Gov. Carroll Campbell appointed Robert as the chief 
of SLED, where he has done an unparalleled job of administering the 
agency.
  When he took over SLED, Chief Stewart's goal was to make it an 
organization that was recognized as being one of the most professional, 
progressive, and modern law enforcement agencies in the United States. 
Over the past 7 years he has done just that. By regionalizing the 
agency, and streamlining its rank structure, Chief Stewart has ensured 
that his agents are better able to monitor and address crime trends 
throughout the State. Additionally, Chief Stewart secured a brand-new 
lab, that is not only used by SLED, but is available to any other 
police department in the State of South Carolina. Thanks to the chief's 
commitment and vision, last year SLED became only the second State 
investigative agency in the Nation to receive professional 
accreditation by the Committee on Accreditation of Law Enforcement 
Agencies.
  Mr. President, Chief Stewart celebrates his 50th birthday today, and 
I want to take this opportunity to recognize and commend him for 
dedicating more than half his life to protecting the people and 
property of South Carolina. Chief Stewart is a man of great ability, 
integrity, and courage, and I am proud of his many accomplishments. I 
wish him good health and happiness in the years ahead, and look forward 
to continuing to hear great things about him.

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