There will be a reception for the candidates for Chief of Police Sunday, February 10, 2008, at The Inn At USC (Carolina Room), 1619 Pendleton Street at 6:00 p.m.


Columbia, SC – Mayor Bob Coble and City Manager Charles Austin today announced five candidates for the City of Columbia Police Chief position. "We received great interest from well-qualified executives from here in South Carolina and from around the country," said Austin.

The five candidates selected to move forward in the selection process are:

Tandy P. Carter is the Chief of Police for the City of Shelby, North Carolina. Chief Carter brings over 33 years of military and municipal law enforcement experience to the table. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Stephen F. Austin State University and a Master of Forensic Sciences from National University. Chief Carter is retired from the United States Marine Corps where he was a Lt. Colonel in the Provost Marshal’s Office. He recently led the Shelby Police Department through re-accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).

Daniel E. Johnson is the Deputy Chief of Professional Standards Division and General Counsel for the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. He has approximately 10 years of law enforcement and prosecutorial experience. He has a Bachelor’s in Political Science from the Citadel and a Juris Doctor from the University Of South Carolina School Of Law. Deputy Chief Johnson served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom where he is a Captain in the Judge Advocate General Corps.

William A. Mauldin has over 25 years of law enforcement experience and is the Chief of Police for the City of Key West, Florida. Chief Mauldin has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of South Carolina and a Master in Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. He had a two year stint with the International Association of Chief of Police where he was appointed to be the first Director of International Programs for the Association. Chief Mauldin retired from the United States Air Force where he commanded three Air Force Offices of Special Investigative detachments.

Michael G. Wilkie has over 22 years law enforcement experience and is currently the Chief of Police in the City of Acworth, Georgia. Chief Wilkie earned his Bachelor’s degree from Bob Jones University and a Master of Criminal Justice from the University of South Carolina. Chief Wilkie has had other stints in South Carolina as the Police Chief in Springdale and in the Town of Jonesville.

Estelle T. Young is a 37-year veteran of the City of Columbia Police Department where she is a member of the command staff as the Captain over the West Region. Captain Young earned an Associate degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of South Carolina. She received a Master of Arts degree in Human Resource Development from Webster University and is the recipient of several local and national awards.

The selection process will continue on Sunday, February 10, 2008 with a public reception that will be held at 6:00 p.m. at the Inn at USC, located at 1619 Pendleton Street. Citizens are invited to attend to meet the candidates.

The finalist interviews are being conducted on Monday, February 11th by several panels made up of Police Department staff, other law enforcement executives, and city government officials.